Alaila Everett Virginia high school sprinter insists she accidentally struck Kaelen Tucker with baton during indoor track meet and that she has since received death threats and had her ‘character’ assassinated as she claims mental anguish.
A Virginia high school track star accused of assaulting another sprinter during an indoor championships meet has insisted the incident was an accident. But was it?
Alaila Everett a senior running for I.C. Norcom High School claimed she had only accidentally struck her opponent, Brookville High School junior, Kaelen Tucker as the competitor passed her on the outside as the two girls were about to merge into a single lane as part of the 4 x 200m relay race at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, on Friday.
Everett during an interview with WAVY insisted that the incident occurred because she lost her balance and her baton getting ‘stuck’ behind her opponent’s back. The athlete insisted the episode was ‘one big misunderstanding.’
‘I know my intentions and I would never hit someone on purpose.’
‘After a couple times of hitting her, my baton got stuck behind her back like this, and it rolled up her back. I lost my balance when I pumped my arms again. She got hit,’ the disgraced athlete said with tears running down her face.
Adding, ‘I know my intentions and I would never hit someone on purpose.’
Tucker who was running the second leg of the relay on behalf for her school was forced to pull over after seemingly being repeatedly struck from behind by Everett. Viral video showed the athlete clutching her head before falling to the ground on the inside of the track and left with a concussion and possible skull fracture.
But there’s more.
Everett also said that while she caused physical pain for Tucker, there has not been enough empathy for her own ‘mental’ impact.
‘Everybody has feelings, so you’re physically hurt, but you’re not thinking of my mental,’ Everett told the outlet. ‘They are assuming my character, calling me ghetto and racial slurs, death threats… all of this off of a nine-second video.’
Where is the apology?
Everett’s mother, Zeketa Cost, told WAVY that she also doesn’t believe her daughter did it on purpose.
‘I didn’t have to see a first video, second video or tenth video. I know 100% that she would never do that to nobody,’ Cost said.
The family claimed that they have been served court papers over the incident and that Everett has tried to apologize to Tucker, who has since blocked Everett on social media.
Tucker’s mother, Tamarrow Tucker, told WSET ABC 13 that they hadn’t received an apology.
‘My whole thing was no apology,’ Tamarrow said. ‘No coaches, no athlete, no anything. Even if it was an accident, which I don’t believe it’s an accident, but nothing. It’s been more than 24 hours now, so I guess that was the major thing. My child was hurt and nobody came to check on her.’
The alleged baton bashing led to Everett and her team being disqualified for ‘contact interference.’
Vincent Pugh, former citywide athletic director at Portsmouth Public Schools, questioned the validity of the disqualification, arguing a play-by-play showed that Tucker was running closely to Everett.
‘If a person comes up on the outside, they got to be a full stride ahead of me before they can cut in front of me,’ Pugh told WAVY.
The Virginia High School League (VHSL) issued a statement to FOX News, stating: ‘The VHSL does not comment on individuals or disciplinary actions due to FERPA.
‘The actions taken by the meet director to disqualify the runner were appropriate and correct. We thoroughly review every instance like this that involves player safety with the participating schools. The VHSL membership has always made it a priority to provide student-athletes with a safe environment for competition.’
