A high school track competition in Virginia took a shocking turn when a runner was attacked from behind with a baton by an opponent during a relay race.
Kaelen Tucker, a junior at Brookville High School, was competing in the 4×200 meter relay at the Virginia Class 3 State Indoor Championships at Liberty University last Friday when the disturbing incident occurred.
Tucker, who had already earned silver in the girl’s 55m dash earlier in the meet, was in second place and attempting to pass another runner when she was attacked.
Video of the race captured the moment. As Tucker attempted to merge into lane one while rounding turn four, her opponent from I.C. Norcom High School struck her with a baton.
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
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“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 told WSLS, a Roanoke news station.
“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 impact caused Tucker to veer off the track, grabbing her head before collapsing to the ground. An audible gasp could be heard from spectators after the attack.
“I could feel a headache coming up, so I just stood out,” Tucker said. The injury forced her to stop running, effectively pulling her team out of the competition.
Medical evaluation later diagnosed Tucker with a concussion and a “possible fractured skull,” according to reports.
The I.C. Norcom runner was immediately disqualified from the event. Tucker’s family expressed disappointment that neither the opposing coach nor the attacker has offered an apology.
“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,” Tucker’s parents said. “Even if it was a fluke or freak accident, you still would check on her.”
Heritage High School, which was leading the race at the time of the incident, went on to win the third heat with a time of 1:47.98, securing a fifth-place overall finish.
Officials have not yet announced what additional disciplinary actions, if any, might be taken against the athlete who attacked Tucker.