A high school track star in Virginia who brutally beat an opponent mid-race with a baton, causing a concussion and a possible skull fracture, has now been charged with assault and battery.
During a 4×200-meter relay at the Virginia High School League Class 3 State Indoor Championships on Friday, Alaila Everett struck Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker in the head with a baton.
Fox News Digitial confirmed the charges, which are a misdemeanor, with the Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Office.
Such charges in Virginia are a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine, though it seems unlikely the assailant would get a maximum sentence in this case.
Track Star Charged With Assault And Battery After Baton Attack
Everett, an I.C. Norcom High School senior, hit Tucker mighty hard as she attempted to pass in lane one. The two had been jostling for position.
The incident was captured on video. You can see the blow to the head caused Tucker to fall off the track as her mother and supporters rushed to her aid amidst audible gasps from the crowd.
She was later diagnosed with a concussion and a possible skull fracture.
NEW: High school track runner gets attacked with a baton in the middle of a relay at the VSHL Class 3 State Indoor Championships.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 9, 2025
Kaelen Tucker was on the second leg of the 4x200m relay at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, when she got smacked in the head.
Tucker suffered a… pic.twitter.com/DXPMwZcaRP
Tucker and her family refused to initially comment on whether or not they would press charges against Everett after the incident.
However, Everett has been very vocal in defending herself, which perhaps led them to decide she needs to be held accountable.
Track Star Charged With Assault Wants You To Know She Hurts Too – Mentally
Everett immediately ran to the media after the incident and suggested she was just as much a victim because, ya know, she hurts too … mentally.
In an interview with WAVY, Everett insisted the contact between her and Tucker was accidental and questioned the narrative, suggesting people need to take into account the “mental” trauma she suffered over the incident.
“Everybody has feelings, so you’re physically hurt, but you’re not thinking of my mental,” a tearful Everett said.
JUST IN: Track runner Alaila Everett charged with assault & battery after hitting a runner in the head with a baton at a track meet.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 13, 2025
Everett claims her hand simply slipped which resulted in the other runner Kaelen Tucker, getting a concussion & possibly fractured skull.
The… pic.twitter.com/SwY8T6tomx
She later went on Good Morning America, where they aired a different angle of the footage, re-enacting the incident to try and prove it was an accident.
Tucker’s family, meanwhile, said they would have appreciated an apology or some show of remorse.
“My whole thing was no apology,” Tucker’s mother 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.”
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