High school track star seriously injured, hit by rival runner's relay baton
A Virginia high school sprinter was struck by an opponent with a baton during a state championship race.
The incident took place on March 7 when Kaelen Tucker, from Brookville High School in Lynchburg, Va., was running in a relay race at a state indoor championship held at Liberty University, WSLS reported.
The high school junior had passed Alaila Everett, a track star and senior at I.C. Norcom High School, when she said she felt a sharp pain in her head that forced her to stop running.
Tucker was later assessed by a doctor and was told she had a concussion and possible skull fracture, according to the outlet.
In video that was widely shared on social media, Tucker, who was running the second leg, can be seen grabbing a baton from her teammate and taking off.
As Tucker overtakes Everett, Everett appears to raise her own baton and strike out in Tucker's direction.
Tucker is seen grabbing her head and falling towards the infield as Everett continued running.
'When you go to the other side of the track, you have to cross into lane one, you have to merge in,' Tucker detailed to the outlet.
'As I was coming up on her, she kind of made me get cut off a little bit, so I backed away,' the athlete continued.
The girl's parents, Tamarro and Keith, told WSLS that the opposing school's athletic director and Everett's father reached out to them, but they want an apology from the team's coach and Everett.
'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,' the parents said.
'Even if it was a fluke or freak accident, you still would check on her.'
Everett told outlet WAVY that it indeed was an accident and the video is being misinterpreted.
She claimed the camera angle made the strike look intentional but she insisted her baton 'got stuck behind her back, then it rolled up her back, I lost my balance and when I pumped my arms against, she got hit,' Everett explained, tearfully.
'I know my intentions and I would never hit someone on purpose.'
Everett said she has been trying to get in touch with Tucker but was shut down and blocked on social media.
She added that she has been on the receiving end of racial slurs and death threats over the video, noting that while Tucker is 'physically hurt' she wants people to sympathize with her feelings, saying through tears that people are 'not thinking of my mental.'
The incident is being investigated by the Virginia High School League.
Transgender track star sparks outrage after winning girls' triple jump by more than 2 metres
U.S. Olympic track star accused of battering wife, nearly choking her to death
MyKayla Skinner begs Simone Biles to call off fans after death threats, online assault
Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Mary Lou Retton fined $100, speaks out following DUI arrest
The Brief Mary Lou Retton pleaded no contest to a DUI charge after a May traffic stop in her hometown and was fined $100 as a first-time offender. Police said she smelled of alcohol, slurred her words, and failed a sobriety test; wine was found in her vehicle. Retton took full responsibility, apologized publicly, and said she was committed to personal growth after the incident. FAIRMONT, W. Va. - Olympic gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton on Tuesday entered a no contest plea to driving under the influence stemming from a traffic stop and arrest in her homtown in West Virginia last month. A Marion County judge fined Retton $100, consistent with sentencing guidelines for first-time, non-aggravated offenses, her attorney Edmund J. Rollo said in a statement. What they're saying In a statement released through her attorney, the 57-year-old Retton said she took full responsibility for her actions. "What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses," she said. "To my family, friends and my fans: I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry. I am determined to learn and grow from this experience, and I am committed to making positive changes in my life. I truly appreciate your concern, encouragement and continued support." Dig deeper Fairmont police stopped Retton on May 17 following a report about a person in a Porsche driving erratically. According to the criminal complaint, Retton smelled of alcohol and was slurring her words, and she failed a field sobriety test. Officers also reported observing a container of wine in the passenger seat. EARLIER: Olympic legend Mary Lou Retton arrested on DUI charge, records show Retton was charged with one count of driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs on May 17, according to Marion County court records. She was released from jail after posting a personal recognizance bond of $1,500. The backstory Retton was 16 when she became the first American female gymnast to win the all-around title at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The native of Fairmont, West Virginia, also won two silver and two bronze medals at those Summer Games to help bring gymnastics — a sport long dominated by eastern European powers like Romania and the Soviet Union — into the mainstream in the U.S. RELATED:Mary Lou Retton says she's a 'fighter' as she recuperates at home following pneumonia scare Retton became the first woman to be featured on the front of a Wheaties cereal box. She retired from competitive gymnastics in 1986 and did numerous commercial endorsements. She also made several film and television appearances, including a stint on "Dancing with the Stars." She and her husband, Shannon Kelley, divorced in 2018. After she retired from gymnastics, Retton became a motivational speaker and frequently shared messages about the benefits of proper nutrition and exercise. In 2023, Retton's family disclosed she was recuperating from a rare form of pneumonia that landed her in intensive care. Doctors found her oxygen levels dangerously low. Her medical team considered putting her on a ventilator as her conditioned worsened. Retton went on oxygen treatment and, after weeks in the hospital, improved enough to be sent home. The Source The Associated Press, FOX News contributed to this story. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Olympic legend Mary Lou Retton speaks out for 1st time after DUI arrest
Olympic gymnastics icon Mary Lou Retton is breaking her silence following her DUI arrest in West Virginia last month. In an exclusive statement to ABC News, the 57-year-old said, "I take full responsibility for my actions. What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses." Retton went on to express deep regret and a commitment to growth. "To my family, friends and my fans: I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry," she said in the statement. "I am determined to learn and grow from this experience, and I am committed to making positive changes in my life." "I truly appreciate your concern, encouragement and continued support," she added. Retton was stopped in Marion County, West Virginia, on May 17 and charged with one misdemeanor count of "driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs," according to online court records at the time. She was released later that day after posting a $1,500 bond. On Tuesday, her attorney Edmund J. Rollo issued a statement to ABC News confirming that Retton pleaded no contest to a non-aggravated DUI charge and accepted full responsibility without seeking any special treatment. "Mary Lou Retton appeared in court this afternoon and entered a no contest plea to a non-aggravated DUI charge stemming from a recent incident," the statement read. "Mary Lou accepted full responsibility for her actions and received a standard $100 fine – consistent with sentencing guidelines for first-time, non-aggravated offenses in this jurisdiction." Mary Lou Retton speaks out for 1st time after life-threatening health scare "In keeping with her values, Mary Lou made no request for special treatment and was subject to the same legal process as any other individual. She is grateful for the professionalism of law enforcement and the court system, and she fully respects the outcome," the statement continued. "Mary Lou has expressed a sincere desire to use this experience as a moment for reflection and accountability. She asks for privacy as she moves forward with her personal and professional life." In October 2023, Retton survived what she would later describe as a life-threatening battle with pneumonia, which required nearly two weeks in the intensive care unit. Retton has remained an iconic figure in American sports history. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, she became the first American woman to win the individual all-around gold medal in gymnastics, earning a series of perfect 10s. She also took home two silver medals and two bronze medals, making her the most decorated athlete of those Games, according to her official Olympics biography. In 1997, she was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, and in 2018, she appeared on season 27 of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." Olympic legend Mary Lou Retton speaks out for 1st time after DUI arrest originally appeared on
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Former Olympic Gymnast, 57, Breaks Silence on DUI Arrest
Former Olympic Gymnast, 57, Breaks Silence on DUI Arrest originally appeared on Parade. Mary Lou Retton is speaking publicly for the first time since her arrest for driving under the influence. On May 17, the former Olympian was taken into custody on suspicion of DUI in Marion County, West Virginia and was released on $1500 bond. She was arrested on one count of "driving under influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs; penalties." In a statement to People Magazine, the retired gymnast, 57, said, "I take full responsibility for my actions. What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses. To my family, friends and my fans: I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry." 'I am determined to learn and grow from this experience, and I am committed to making positive changes in my life. I truly appreciate your concern, encouragement and continued support," she added through her attorney, Edmund J. Rollo. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Retton appeared in court on Tuesday, June 10 and entered a no contest plea to a non-aggravated DUI charge stemming from the incident. She received a $100 fine which is standard for first-time, non-aggravated offenses in the area. Retton's attorney adds that she "asks for privacy as she moves forward with her personal and professional life." Her arrest occurred after police responded to reports of a Porsche with a Texas license plate driving "all over the roadway" near downtown Fairmont, West Virginia, according to court documents obtained and reviewed by WDTV. The gymnastics star was allegedly found in her car in a Marion County AutoZone parking lot with a screw-top bottle of wine in her passenger seat when officers approached her, according to the news station, citing court documents. Police also claimed Retton was slurring her words while speaking with them at the scene and refused to have her blood tested for alcohol. Three standard field sobriety tests administered by authorities detected Retton was impaired, according to WDTV. During the 1984 Summer Olympics, Retton became a household name after she was the first American woman to win the individual all-around gold medal in gymnastics. Former Olympic Gymnast, 57, Breaks Silence on DUI Arrest first appeared on Parade on Jun 11, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
