High school track sprinter attacked with baton by competitor in middle of race
A high school track athlete was attacked with a baton during a race in Virginia over the weekend. Video emerged on social media of the incident in which Brookville High School’s Kaelen Tucker was hit in the head with a baton by an opposing runner.
Tucker was on the second leg of the 4x200m relay VSHL Class 3 State Indoor Championships when a girl who was gaining on her looked to strike her with the baton. Tucker stumbled to the ground as the other runners passed her. You can view the moment below.
“When you go to the other side of the track, you have to cross into lane one, you have to merge in,” Tucker said. “As I was coming up on her, she kind of like made me get cut off a little bit, so I backed away. Then, as we got around the curve, she kept bumping me in my arm. Then finally we got off the curve, I like slowly started passing her and then that’s when she just hit me with the baton and I fell off the track.”
Tucker reportedly suffered a concussion and a possible fractured skull as a result of the impact, local TV station WSLS reported. Her parents also stated that they have not received an apology from the other runner nor the coach of the other team, which is I.C Norcom High School. However, the school was disqualified from the event as a result of the runner’s actions.
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“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 Tuckers said. “Even if it was a fluke or freak accident, you still would check on her.”
The incident is currently under investigation by the Virginia High School League.
“We don’t comment on individuals or disciplinary actions,” the VHSL wrote in a statement to WSLS. “The actions taken by the meet director were appropriate and correctly applied.”
The VHSL also added that it viewed what happened as “a serious issue, especially when it involves the safety of athletes in competitions.” No legal charges have been filed as of yet against the I.C Norcom High School track runner who hit Tucker with the baton.