Alaila Everett is a teenage high school track runner who recently hit her opponent with a baton during a state championship race, find out more about her below
Everett has since spoken up about the incident, stating her side of the events and insisting that it was unintentional.
Kaelen Tucker of the Brookville High School is a teenage high school track runner who recently got hit by one of her opponents during a state title race. The shocking incident took place at the Virginia state indoor championship at Liberty University. A video of the incident has since been circulating online, sparking all kinds of outrage among netizens.
Who is Alaila Everett as IC Norcom High School, Virginia track and field athlete hits Kaelen Tucker of Brookville with baton during 4×200 m relay race in viral video
As Kaelen was running the second leg of the 4×200 meter relay, she seemingly grabbed the baton from her teammate and ran forward. While attempting to pass a competitor from IC Norcom High School, the other runner raised her baton and struck Kaelen in the head. Kaelen instantly clutched her head and fell toward the infield, while the opposing runner continued the race.
On-site medical staff and her mother immediately rushed to attend to Kaelen. Medical officials later diagnosed Kaelen with a concussion and a possible skull fracture. Due to her injury, she had to drop out of competing in the final races of the season.
Alaila Everett, a track star and senior at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth who attacked Kaelen has now spoken out about the viral footage showing her strike an opponent in the head with her baton and said there is more to the video clip than meets the eye.
“Everybody has feelings, so you’re physically hurt, but you’re not thinking of my mental,” Everett said.
She and Kaelen Tucker, a junior at Brookville High School in Lynchburg, were competing in the 4×200 meter relay when they almost collided while rounding a curve on the track.
“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 said adding that the incident was accidental.
Alaila Everett, a track star and senior at I.C. Norcom High School, is speaking out following shocking footage where she struck an opponent in the head with her baton and allegedly injured her during a relay race. https://t.co/wxGMQfzUPd pic.twitter.com/Xvy2l5zZB8
— WAVY TV 10 (@WAVY_News) March 10, 2025
With the investigation still underway, the incident has sparked all kinds of debates among netizens related to accountability and sportsmanship.
Alaila Everett speaks out about the incident
Following the shocking incident during a championship race, Alaila Everett has since spoken about it publicly for the first time. Everett hit her in the head with a baton during the race, sparking controversy and widespread criticism. Everett has now come out to state that the incident was an accident and unintentional. Alaila Everett recounted her side of the story in an interview with WAVYTV10, stating:
After a couple of times hitting her with my baton, I got stuck behind her back, and it rolled up. I lost my balance, and when I pumped my arms again, she got hit.”
Everett also addressed the intense backlash and stated how no one was considering about her mental health. She also went on to share how she wants to apologize but claims that Tucker has not responded and has even blocked her on social media. Interestingly, Alaila Everett’s parents have defended their daughter, and asserted that she did not act with malicious intent. Her parents also revealed that they have been served court papers from Tucker and her family who are currently seeking a protective order.
Meanwhile, the Virginia High School League (VHSL) has launched an official investigation into the incident. Tucker’s family, on the other hand, has expressed frustration over the lack of an immediate apology, stating:
They were beside us at the event. They were watching the video at the event, but no one apologized or came to check on her.”
Reactions from netizens
In response to the clarifications that Alaila Everett gave, netizens have reacted with backlash against her. One netzine stated:
First off she is right, nobody will believe her, not even she.”
Another user stated:
This is what gaslight and manipulation look like in real time”
Meanwhile, another person commented:
Not only did she do it on purpose, if you look closely, She was about to hit her again, but the girl stumbled off the track.”
Track star facing backlash after baton controversy speaks out! Claims video may look intentional, but it was not her intent, the other athlete was left with a concussion & a fractured skull.
Thoughts? Could it be an accident? 👀 pic.twitter.com/rEcjF1IppC
— Rain Drops Media (@Raindropsmedia1) March 10, 2025
Alaila Everett bio
Alaila Everett is a teenage high school sprinter from Virginia. Everett is a student at I.C. Norcom High School, in Virginia, and she has competed in various track and field events as a member of her school’s track and field team. Alaila mainly competes in relay events and recently went viral for all the wrong reasons during a state championship race. Alaila found herself in the spotlight after hitting her opponent with a baton during the March 7, 2024, Virginia state indoor championship at Liberty University.
High School junior Kaelen Tucker was hit in the head with a baton during relay race in Virginia. She was taken to the hospital where she was found to have a concussion and a possible skull fracture.
Alaila Everett, a senior at I.C. Norcom High School said it was an accident. pic.twitter.com/u1enc4EYyf
— Te-Erika (@Te_Erika) March 10, 2025