A brazen attack at the indoor track championships in Virginia saw a female runner use her baton in her relay race to strike her opponent many times, leaving spectators shocked.
The unexpected attack unfolded during the 4x200m relay event of the VSHL Class 3 State Indoor Championships at the Liberty University Campus in Lynchburg.
Kaelen Tucker was running the second leg of the relay for Lynchburg’s Brookville High School when she made a pass around another runner in a battle for second place.
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Although these situations are not completely rare in races, her opponent in that event who attended IC Norcom High School began to strike her multiple times with the baton.
The Norcom runner strategically smacked the baton she was holding on Tucker’s head in a video that went viral since that moment.
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All around the Liberty Indoor Track Complex were gasps from spectators as Tucker slowed down, stumbled, and then fell flat to the ground on the interior of the course.
‘I still can’t believe it, I’m in shock.’ said Tucker, who is resting at home with her family, according to local ABC affiliate WSET. ‘I’m still trying to take it all in, I can’t believe it happened.’
According to reports, the Norcom’s high school race team got disqualified by judges after the attack at the event for ‘contact interference’ or getting in the way of another runner’s actions using physical means.
According to WSET, Tucker is currently being treated for a concussion and a possible skull fracture.
Her mother, Tamarro Tucker, told the outlet that no one from Norcom’s team even cared about checking on her daughter after the incident.
She also revealed that no one from the team has apologized for the runner’s actions.
“No apologies. No coaches. No athlete. Nothing. Even if it was an accident—which I don’t believe it was—nothing,” Tamarro Tucker said.
Kaelen told WSET that all she wants to know is, “Why did you do it, and why haven’t you apologized?”
In a statement to WSET, the VSHL, the governing body for Virginia high school sports, stated that it does not comment on individuals or disciplinary actions but added, “The actions taken by the meet director were appropriate and correct.”
The VSHL also said it is continuing to review the situation, calling it “a serious issue, especially when it involves the safety of athletes in competitions.”
The Tucker family revealed they reached out to the parent of the runner who hit Kaelen and to I.C. Norcom’s athletic director after the incident, and have now received an apology from both on behalf of the student.
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For now, it remains unclear whether the Tucker family is considering filing charges after their daughter was a victim of the attack in the high school relay race in Virginia. The incident was a truly devastating sight that should certainly not be encouraged amongst athletes of any level.
