Syndication: Austin American-Statesman
Credit: Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

A high school track star in Virginia who brutally beat an opponent mid-race with a baton held a rally with supporters outside of her school where she tearfully maintained her innocence.

This, despite viral video showing Alaila Everett clearly striking a fellow relay racer, Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker, in the head.

It was a continuation of Everett’s attempt to draw attention to herself. She previously claimed that while Tucker’s physical injuries were terrible, people should think about her mental suffering.

Everett sobbed repeatedly and uncontrollably at times, thanking dozens of supporters at the rally.

“Thank y’all for supporting me,” Everett said. “There’s no one else that wanted to hear my story, except the people that know me and people that know I would never do anything like that, I would never harm anybody.”

“I’m not a fighter, I’m not even confrontational, I wouldn’t even do that on purpose, and I thank y’all for believing in me.”

Track Star Who Beat Opponent With A Baton ‘Not A Fighter’

No one else wanted to hear her story? Everett has done multiple media interviews over the incident, including with Good Morning America.

On that show, she and her family tried providing alternate-angle footage to prove her innocence. Instead, it just offered a different view of her whacking Tucker in the head with the baton, causing a concussion and a possible skull fracture.

In another 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.

It’s not that no one wants to hear her story. It’s that they’re not buying her preposterous story.

Charged With Assault And Battery

Everett has since been charged with assault and battery for attacking a fellow racer with a baton on the track.

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.

Tucker’s family has maintained they were simply looking for an apology over the incident and never received one.

The Portsmouth NAACP issued a statement of support for Everett, suggesting criticism of her actions are racially motivated.

“The Everett family has experienced racial slurs, they’ve experienced death threats, and we think unequivocally that those things are unacceptable,” Portsmouth NAACP President James Boyd said.

Those things are unacceptable if they’ve been happening. Though it’s highly suspect. But, Mr. Boyd, she’s not the victim here. Where’s the statement in support of Ms. Tucker?

Rusty Weiss is a lifelong NFL and MLB fan (Cowboys/Dodgers) and sometimes fan of college basketball (Xavier). Rusty is ... More about Rusty Weiss
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