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In a shocking turn of events, the student athlete who was caught on video striking her competitor with a baton during a track meet has come forward with an implausible explanation for her actions.
The incident occurred during Friday’s VHSL Class 3 State Indoor Championships at Liberty University in Lynchburg, where Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker was participating in the 4×200 meter relay. Tucker, who had earlier secured a silver medal in the girl’s 55m dash, was running the second leg of the relay when the attack happened.
As Tucker attempted to move into the first lane while competing for second position around the fourth turn, her rival from IC Norcom High School deliberately slowed down and struck her forcefully in the head with a baton. The assault left Tucker with a concussion and potential skull fracture after she stumbled off the track and collapsed, much to the horror of spectators.
NEW: High school track runner gets attacked with a baton in the middle of a relay at the VSHL Class 3 State Indoor Championships.
Kaelen Tucker was on the second leg of the 4x200m relay at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, when she got smacked in the head.
Tucker suffered a… pic.twitter.com/DXPMwZcaRP
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 9, 2025
The perpetrator, Alaila Everett, has since attempted to defend her actions by claiming the video footage is misleading. During an emotional interview with WAVY, Everett offered an extraordinary explanation for the incident.
“They’re going off of one angle,” Everett said while crying. “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.”
“I know my intentions and I would never hit someone on purpose,” she insisted.
Everett then portrayed herself as a victim, claiming she had received racist death threats following the incident. “Everybody has feelings, so you’re physically hurt, but you’re not thinking of my mental, right?” she said tearfully. “They are assuming my character, calling me ghetto and racist slurs, death threats, all of this just because of a nine second video.”
🚨#BREAKING: High School Runner Alaila Everett, Strikes Kaelen Tucker with Baton During VSHL Class 3 Relay, Calls It an 'Accident', Urges Empathy as Victim Reports Concussion and Possible Skull Fracture pic.twitter.com/IbeJZqI82G
— The Veritas Report (@veritasalerts) March 10, 2025
Despite clear video evidence of the assault, Everett’s mother, Zeketa Cost, steadfastly defended her daughter, telling WAVY, “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.”
Tucker’s family is seeking a protective order, which has angered Everett’s father, Genoa. “It doesn’t seem right that this would happen and now we have to go to a city three hours away that everyone hates our guts already,” he complained.
While Everett claims she’s willing to apologize, Tucker has blocked her on social media and remains unreceptive to communication. Tucker’s parents continue to demand an apology from both Everett and IC Norcom’s coach.
