Track Star Who Hit Opponent in Head with Baton Breaks Silence amid Controversy Over If It Was Intentional

• A highschool sprinter is talking out for the primary time after she was disqualified for hitting an opponent on the top with a baton, calling it an accident

• Alaila Everett says she’s acquired demise threats and racist insults after the video went viral

• Everett’s mother and father are staying by her facet, saying she’d by no means deliberately harm somebody

A teen monitor star who hit an opponent on the head with a baton throughout a Virginia state championship race is talking out, calling it an accident.

“I do know my intention is that I’d by no means hit anyone on function,” stated Alaila Everett, a senior at I.C. Norcom Excessive Faculty, in an emotional interview with native outlet WAVY TV 10.

The teenager’s perspective comes 5 days after the 4×200 meter relay at a state indoor championship at Liberty College, throughout which Everett was seen putting her opponent, Kaelen Tucker, with a baton, in keeping with native information outlet WSLS 10.

The incident on Tuesday, March 4 was captured on video and confirmed Tucker, a junior from Brookville Excessive Faculty, clutching her head and falling in the direction of the infield after the hit. Kaelen was later assessed by a health care provider and was instructed she had a concussion and attainable cranium fracture, in keeping with the outlet. The I.C. Norcom Excessive Faculty crew was disqualified from the occasion.

The college instructed PEOPLE that it instantly reported the incident to the Virginia Excessive Faculty League (VHSL), which is constant an investigation into the matter. “We’re cooperating with the VHSL in its work,” stated Dr. Lauren Nolasco, the chief communications officer for Portsmouth Public Faculties. “The division will assist and comply with the ruling that comes from the VHSL upon its accomplished investigation.”

Brookville Excessive Faculty has not instantly responded to PEOPLE’s request for remark.

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In an announcement obtained by PEOPLE, the VHSL stood by the choice to disqualify Everett.

“The VHSL doesn’t touch upon people or disciplinary actions as a consequence of FERPA. The actions taken by the meet director to disqualify the runner have been acceptable and proper,” the group stated. “We totally overview each occasion like this that entails participant security with the collaborating colleges. The VHSL membership has at all times made it a precedence to supply student-athletes with a protected setting for competitors.”

Throughout her latest interview, Everett claimed that the video is deceptive.

“They’re going off of 1 angle,” she instructed WAVY TV 10.

“After a pair occasions of hitting her [with her body], my baton bought caught behind her again like this,” Everett stated, gesturing upwards, “and it rolled up her again. I misplaced my steadiness and after I pumped my arms once more, she bought hit.”

Tucker, who was within the second lane throughout the relay, was seen working near Everett as she tried to overhaul her opponent, per the video. The shut proximity then resulted within the strike to Tucker’s head, Everett claims.

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Because the incident, Everett stated she’s acquired a wave of hatred.

“They’re assuming my character, calling me ghetto, racist slurs, demise threats, all of this, simply due to a nine-second video,” Everett instructed WAVY TV 10.

The night after the race, Tucker and her mom, Tamarro Tucker, spoke to WSLS 10. Each questioned why Tucker hadn’t acquired an apology.

“My complete factor was no apology,” Tamarro stated within the interview. “Like, no coaches, no athlete, no something. Even when it was an accident — which I don’t consider it was — however nothing. And it’s been greater than 24 hours now. So I suppose that was the foremost factor. My youngster was harm and no one got here to examine on her.”

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Kaelen echoed her mom’s assertion, telling the outlet she’s been left questioning: “Why did you do it? And why haven’t you apologized but?”

Her opponent stated she has tried to apologize, but it surely hasn’t been acquired. Everett instructed WAVY TV 10 that Kaelen has blocked her on social media. The outlet additionally studies that Everett’s household is being sued by the Tuckers.

Everett’s mother and father are appalled on the vitriol their daughter has acquired, in keeping with the outlet. They usually’re standing by their daughter.

Everett’s mother instructed the outlet that she “didn’t must see a primary video, second video or tenth video. I do know one hundred pc that she would by no means do this to no one.”

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