During a Virginia state title race, a high school track star was attacked by a competitor using a baton, shocking spectators.
In a shocking incident at a state championship track meet, high school runner Kaelen Tucker was attacked by another competitor.
This event took place during the VHSL Class 3 State Indoor Championships at Liberty University in Virginia.
Chilling moment Virginia track star attacked in back of head with a relay baton by rival during their race
Kaelen Tucker, a junior at Brookville High School, was competing in the 4×200 meter relay.
Earlier in the meet, she had already earned a silver medal in the girls’ 55-meter dash.
The relay race was crucial for her team, and Tucker was determined to perform well.
As Tucker was running her leg of the relay, she found herself in a tight race for position.
She was trying to move into lane one when her opponent from IC Norcom High School suddenly attacked her.
Instead of blocking her, the opponent raised a relay baton and struck Tucker on the back of her head.
“When we get onto the other side of the track we have to cross to lane one, you have to merge in, and as I was coming up on her she kind of made me get cut off a little bit so I backed away,” Tucker explained to WSLS.
“When we got to the curve she kept bumping me in my arm and when we got off the curve I finally passed her and that was when she hit me with the baton.”
The crowd gasped as Tucker fell.
The crowd gasped in shock as Tucker fell to the ground, clearly in pain.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing her clutch her head as she stumbled off the track.
Tucker’s mother and team trainers rushed to her side to provide immediate assistance.
After the incident, Tucker was taken for medical evaluation. Doctors diagnosed her with a concussion and suspected a skull fracture.
This news was alarming for her family and teammates, who were concerned about her health and safety.
Tucker’s mother expressed her worries about the severity of the injuries.
Officials disqualified the opponent for her actions immediately.
Following the attack, the IC Norcom team was disqualified from the race. This decision was made in response to the actions of their runner.
While some felt this was a necessary step, others believed that more should have been done to address the safety of all athletes.
Family of Virginia track star received no apologies from anyone.
Tucker and her family were disappointed that neither the opponent nor their coach apologized after the incident.
They were present at the event and even watched the replay of the attack but did not reach out to check on Tucker’s well-being.
This lack of acknowledgment added to the frustration felt by Tucker’s family.
“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 Tucker’s parents told the outlet.
“Even if it was a fluke or freak accident, you still would check on her.”
“No apologies. No coaches. No athlete. No anything. Even if it was an accident, which I don’t believe it was… nothing,” Tamarro Tucker said.
“Why did you do it, and why haven’t you apologized?”
In response to the attack, Tucker’s mother contacted the governing body for high school sports in Virginia.
They have since opened an investigation into what occurred during the race.
Officials are looking into the circumstances surrounding the attack and whether any further actions are necessary.