A shocking moment at the VHSL Class 3 State Indoor Championships has ignited controversy, as I.C. Norcom High School senior Alaila Everett is accused of striking her opponent, Kaelen Tucker, in the head with a baton during the 4×200 meter relay.

The viral footage has fueled heated debates on social media, but Alaila Everett insists the incident was an unfortunate accident.

📽️ Watch the viral video: 

Alaila Everett Speaks Out: ‘I Would Never Do That on Purpose’

For the first time since the video surfaced, Alaila Everett has addressed the backlash and expressed frustration over the accusations.

“Everybody has feelings. You’re physically hurt, but you’re not thinking about my mental,” she said, emphasizing that the video does not tell the full story.

Everett explained that her baton got caught on Tucker’s back during a moment of contact.

“After a couple times of 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,” she detailed.

Despite speculation and criticism, Alaila Everett maintains she had no malicious intent.

“I know my intentions, and I would never hit someone on purpose,” she stated.

📽️ Watch Alaila Everett’s explanation: 

Kaelen Tucker’s Perspective: ‘I Was In Disbelief’

On the other side of the controversy, Kaelen Tucker, a junior at Brookville High School, was left injured and in shock.

She described feeling a sharp pain in her head before immediately stopping the race.

Medical professionals later determined that Tucker had suffered a concussion and a possible skull fracture.

“I was so in disbelief. I didn’t even know what happened. I just know I got hit in the head, and I just fell off the track,” Tucker recalled in an interview with ABC affiliate WSET.

Her mother, Tamarro Tucker, has voiced her frustration, particularly regarding what she perceives as a lack of accountability from Alaila Everett and her team.

“My whole thing was no apology,” Tamarro Tucker said. “Like, no coaches, no athlete, no anything. Even if it was an accident—which I don’t believe it was—but nothing. And it’s been more than 24 hours now.”

Alaina Everett Receives Backlash & Disqualification

As the video spread across social media, Alaila Everett and her family faced severe online harassment, including racial slurs and death threats.

“They are assuming my character, calling me ghetto and racial slurs, death threats… all of this off of a nine-second video,” Everett shared.

The I.C. Norcom High School relay team was ultimately disqualified from the event, a decision questioned by former Portsmouth Public Schools Citywide Athletic Director Vincent Pugh.

Pugh suggested that Tucker may have been running too close to Everett when the incident happened.

“If a person comes up on the outside, they got to be a full stride ahead of me before they can cut in front of me,” Pugh explained.

Meanwhile, Everett’s parents remain steadfast in their belief that their daughter would never deliberately harm another athlete.

“I didn’t have to see a first video, second video, or tenth video. I know 100 percent that she would never do that to nobody,” said Zeketa Cost, Alaila Everett’s mother.

The fallout from the incident has escalated beyond the track.

Alaila Everett reportedly attempted to contact Kaelen Tucker to apologize but has been blocked on social media.

Additionally, the Tucker family has filed a protective order against Everett.

“It doesn’t seem right that this would happen, and now we have to go to a city three hours away where everyone hates our guts already,” said Genoa Everett, Alaila’s father.

The Virginia High School League (VHSL) confirmed they are reviewing the incident and emphasized their commitment to athlete safety.

“The actions taken by the meet director to disqualify the runner were appropriate and correct,” the VHSL said in a statement.

“We thoroughly review every instance like this that involves player safety with the participating schools.”

What Happens Next?

While Alaila Everett continues to face scrutiny, Kaelen Tucker is focused on recovery.

She was unable to compete in the final races of the season due to her injury—an especially frustrating setback, as she had just set a new meet record for the 55-meter dash before the incident.

As both athletes, their families, and the broader track and field community await further updates from VHSL’s investigation, one question remains:

Was this truly an accident, or was there more at play?

Let’s discuss! Frens, what do you think? 👇🏾

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