A viral video of a U.S. high school athlete striking another with a metal baton during a race has sparked global outrage. In the video, Alaila Everett hits her competitor, Kaelen Tucker, just as Kaelen is speeding past her on the track. While it appears intentional, Alaila claims it was accidental while crying.
Alaila, a student of IC Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, was overcome with tears during a recent interview regarding the shocking incident. She expressed that among the backlash she has been receiving over the incident, people are also targeting her with racial slurs and death threats.
Alaila is a senior student at IC Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, while Kaelen is a junior at Brookville High School in Lynchburg. They were competing in the 4×200 meter relay at a sports meet last Tuesday when the incident happened. They almost collided when coming around the bend.
In the interview with WAVY TV 10 News, Alaila says she lost her balance in the race in tears. “After a couple of times 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,” the high school athlete said.
Many social media users believe that she did it deliberately and have requested that she be removed from the team and banned from participating in future events.
“From the video, it does look purposeful, but I know my intentions, and I would never hit somebody on purpose,” Alaila added. She said she was unable to contact Kaelen because Kaelen blocked her on social media.
The incident resulted in the IC Norcom High School team being disqualified from the meet. Alaila and her parents were served court documents. “You’re physically hurt, but you’re not thinking of my mental, right?” she said, choked up in tears.
Kaelen is now experiencing the effects of a concussion and a possible skull fracture, according to a report. Kaelene and her parents stated that while Alaila’s father apologised, Alaila has not. Kaelene spoke to the media, telling them she had been in shock since the incident. Now, all Kaelene says she wants is an explanation and an apology from Alaila.
