Virginia track athlete facing assault charge after baton strike she said was accidental
A Portsmouth, Virginia, track athlete is facing an assault and battery charge after an incident during a state-level track meet. Meanwhile, the Portsmouth NAACP is coming to her defense.
Video of the incident appeared to show I.C. Norcom High School senior Alaila Everett hit another runner with a baton during a race at the Class 3 State Indoor Championships earlier this month.
Speaking with Nexstar’s WAVY, Everett said it was an accident. She explained that as she and Kaelen Tucker, a junior at Brookville High School, were competing in the 4×200 meter relay, they nearly collided with each other while rounding a curve on the track.
“After a couple times of hitting her, my baton got stuck behind her back … and it rolled up her back. I lost my balance when I pumped my arms again. She got hit,” Everett said.
I.C. Norcom was disqualified after the race.
Everett said she has made attempts to apologize to Tucker via social media but has been blocked. Now, a petition for one count of assault and battery has been issued against Everett, according to the Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Office.
In a statement Wednesday, the Portsmouth NAACP said they were informed of the possibility of criminal charges being brought, calling it “concerning” and “not warranted.” The NAACP denounced the use of racial slurs and threats directed toward Everett and said “Alaila is NOT AN ATTACKER,” calling out some media coverage portraying her as such.
The NAACP expressed thoughts and prayers for both the runners impacted and their families as the gravity of the incident weighs on them.
Numerous accounts of this incident have been reported, from both runners and their families, as well as sport officials weighing in on the ruling. Videos of the incident have gone viral with many placing judgment on and ridiculing Everett.
Everett’s family was served with court papers as the Tuckers want a protective order, even as they are saying they want an apology from the athlete.
Mike McCall, Director of Communications for Virginia High School League, released a statement directly to WAVY:
“We don’t comment on individuals or disciplinary actions. I can tell you that the actions taken by the meet director were appropriate and correct. We are still reviewing the situation but that’s all I have for you right now. It’s a serious issue especially when it involves the safety of athletes in competitions.”
Additionally, Lauren Nolasco, Portsmouth Public Schools Director of Communications, provided the following statement:
“The division immediately reported the incident to the Virginia High School League (VHSL), which is still investigating. We are cooperating with the VHSL in its work. The division will support and follow the ruling that comes from the VHSL upon its completed investigation.”
Alaila Everett’s account
WAVY spoke with Everett, who said that the whole thing was an accident after she lost her balance. During the interview, Everett got emotional when describing the threats and racial slurs she’s received.
Watch her full interview:
Everett admitted that the video looked bad, but said she knew her intentions and would never hit another runner on purpose.
Everett’s account of the race seems to match up with what could have happened in the video, although many critics have argued it looked intentional.
Everett described how Tucker was getting too close while trying to cut in and Everett’s baton snagged, causing her to lose balance. While pumping her arms, she accidentally hit her competitor, Everett said. After the initial hit, Everett said she kept the baton up while running to try to prevent it from hitting her a second time — a move some social media comments described as “winding up again.”
After Tucker fell, Everett said she wanted to check on her, but after finishing the race saw people already swarming to Tucker and was instructed by her coach to do her cool down.
Everett’s parents said they know their daughter’s character.
“I didn’t have to see a first video, second video, or tenth video. I know 100% that she would never do that to nobody,” Zeketa Cost, Everett’s mother said.
Everett’s parents were able to make contact with Tucker’s parents and apologized while Everett was at school. Everett told WAVY she has made efforts to get in contact with Tucker but has been blocked by her on social media.
Kaelen Tucker’s account
The runner that was hit was Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker. She has spoken publicly about the whole incident that was said to have caused a concussion and possible skull fracture. Tucker spoke with local news outlet WSLS about what happened as she rounded the corner.
“When you go to the other side of the track, you have to cross into lane one, you have to merge in. As I was coming up on her, she kind of like made me get cut off a little bit, so I backed away,” Tucker explained. “Then, as we got around the curve, she kept bumping me in my arm. Then finally we got off the curve, I, like, slowly started passing her and then that’s when she just hit me with the baton and I fell off the track.”
Tucker’s parents said they received an apology from I.C. Norcom’s athletic director and Everett’s parents, but they also want one from the coach and Everett herself.
Vincent Pugh, former Citywide Athletic Director at Portsmouth Public Schools
Pugh said that when a runner gets hurt, it’s easier to overlook the root issue that caused the injury — in this case, saying it was Tucker cutting in prematurely on the curve. He said he believes that if an official was there, Tucker would’ve gotten a yellow flag.
“In a race involving a curve, where lanes are not specified, a competitor may move on the inside or outside of the track provided the runner is one full runner’s stride — approximately seven feet, alright — in advance of the competitor whose path was crossed,” Pugh said, citing Article Four of the rules.