Portsmouth, Virginia – The Virginia high school track and field community was shocked when a senior sprinter from I.C. Norcom High School allegedly struck her opponent, junior Kaelen Tucker from Brookville High School, with a baton during a relay race at the VHSL Class 3 State Indoor Championships at Liberty University.
The incident happened during the 4×200 meter relay race, with Alaila Everett running the second leg for I.C. Norcom’s team. As the girls were competing for second place, tensions rose, leading to a physical altercation on the track. Despite challenges in audio and video quality due to the distance from the track, lip-reading expert Nicola Hickling claimed to have deciphered some of the words exchanged during the confrontation.
Tucker recounted the moment when Everett allegedly hit her with the baton, causing her to suffer a concussion and a possible skull fracture. Despite the severity of the injuries, Everett insisted in a tearful interview that the incident was unintentional, citing misunderstandings and threats she faced in its aftermath.
In the aftermath, Tucker and her parents expressed disappointment that neither Everett nor the IC Norcum head coach apologized or checked on the injured runner after the incident. This led the Tuckers to take legal action by serving court papers to request a protective order against Everett.
The incident not only resulted in Tucker’s injuries but also led to I.C. Norcom High School’s disqualification from the race. This event serves as a reminder of the importance of sportsmanship and respect in competitive athletics, emphasizing the need for proper supervision and accountability in high school sports.