A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE TRACK MEET IN VIRGINIA

 By Bob Walsh

Konk

 

There was a very seriously competitive high school track meet in Virginia on March 4.  The 4X200 girls relay was especially harrowing.  It ended up with Norcom High senior Alaila Everett being charged with assault and battery for whacking a competitor in the head with the baton during the race.

It went down during the second leg of the relay.  Brookville HIgh junior Kaelen Tucker was hit in the back of the head by Everett's baton during the race.  Tucker suffered a concussion and may have a fractured skull.  

Everett claims that Tucker was crowding her and she lost her balance and accidentally whacked Tucker while she was "windmilling" go regain her balance.  

Tucker says that Everett was crowding her and that when she started to pass Everett deliberately hit her with the metal baton.  

I have seen several angles of video of the incident.  To me it looks like Tucker is right and Everett hit her deliberately.  Everett's team was disqualified after the incident.  The Lynchburg Commonwealth Attorney, Bethany Harrison, announced on Wednesday that Everett was being criminally charged.