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A high school runner viciously attacked a competitor during a 4x200 relay race in Virginia and sparked outrage online.
The aggression ocurred during a Virginia High School League competition.The victim, Kaelen Tucker, suffered a concussion and a possible fractured skull.
Tucker talked to the local media and said that she couldn't believe what happened during the competition and that she's still in shock. "I'm still processing it, I still don't believe what happened." said the teenager, adding that her attacker didn't apologize for her actions.
The aggressor gives her side of the story
Alaila Everett, a track star and senior at I.C. Norcom High School, is speaking out following the shocking video where she struck an opponent in the head with her baton and allegedly injured her during a relay race as part of a competition.
"Everybody has feelings, so she's physically hurt but you're not thinking of my mental health." Everett told WAVY TV 10. The decorated athlete added that people are making assumptions based off one angle. According to the aggressor, the baton she was carrying got stuck in her opponent's back.
"I lost my balance and when I pumped my arms again, she got hit. But I know my intentions and I know that I would never hit somebody on purpose." she added. Her mother has come up to Everett's defense, mentioning the fact that after watching multiple angles of the act, her daughter didn't have the intention to hurt anybody.
The victim would not accept an apology
Everett added that she wants to apologize to Kaelen Tucker for her actions, but she was blocked from social media and refuses to talk to her. She's still hoping that she can talk to the young athlete and explain her side of the story. In the meantime, she and her team got disqualified from competition.
A local USA Track and Field official found the ruling questionable. According to the person, a play-by-play look shows that the victim was running closely to Alaila. "If a person comes out on the outside, they have to be a full stride ahead of me before they can cut in front of me." Vincent Pugh, certified official, mentioned.
Further more, the Everett family hes been served with court papers. "Now we have to go to a city three hours away where everybody hate our guts already." said Alaila's father. "They are questioning my character, calling me 'ghetto', racial slurs, death threats, all of this because of a nine seconds video." the young athlete stated.