I.C. Norcom High School senior Alaila Everett made headlines when, during a relay event at the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 3 Indoor Championships, she hit Brookville junior Kaelen Tucker over the head with her baton.
In the days since, amid a wave of backlash against her, Everett has claimed that her baton got “stuck” behind Tucker’s back and that she did not strike her on purpose. The impact of the blow was such that, in addition to falling out of the race and off the track, Tucker suffered a concussion and may have sustained a skull fracture.
“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,” Everett claimed when interviewed by local news outlet WAVY.
Everett also complained that people were responding to her actions without viewing it from…
