Virginia High School’s athletics runner who was seen violently breaking his stick in the head of an opponent during a relay race talked about the backlash she received, while saying that the incident was an accident.
Alaila Everett, Senior of IC Norcom High School, gave the opponent Brookville Kaelen Tucker a concussion and a possible fracture of the skull when she beat her head with the stick during an event on Tuesday. Everett says that the attack occurred because it lost its balance and its stick “stuck” behind the head of its opponent.
“After a few times to hit her, my stick was stuck behind her back like that, and he rolled his back. I lost my balance when I pumped my arms again. She was touched,” said Everett in an interview with Wavy. “I know my intentions and I would never hit someone on purpose”, “
Everett also said that even if she had caused physical pain in Tucker, there is not enough empathy for the “mental” impact of Everett.
“Everyone has feelings, so you are physically injured, but you don’t think of my mind,” said Everett. “They assume my character, calling me the ghetto and the racial insults, the death threats … all on a nine second video.”
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Everett’s mother Zeketa Cost told Wavy that she didn’t believe that her daughter did it on purpose either.
“I didn’t have to see a first video, a second video or a tenth video. I know 100% that she would never do that to anyone,” Cost said.
The family said they had received court documents for the incident and that Everett had tried to apologize to Tucker, but the convenienced opponent blocked Everett on social networks.
Tucker’s mother Tamarrow Tucker told Wset ABC 13 on Thursday that they had not received an apology.
“My thing was not apologies,” said Tamarrow. “No coaches, no athlete, nothing. Even if it was an accident, which I don’t think it’s an accident, but nothing. It was more than 24 hours now, so I guess it was the major thing. My child was injured and no one came to check it.”
Female athletes do not compete vs. Transgender event on the American team track, giving a default victory to the Trans athlete
Starting blocks and a baton at the 120th Penn relay at the Franklin Field. (Kirby Lee-USA today Sport)
Tucker said the incident and said the whole section was panting when they saw the repeated stick to disparage themselves.
“The whole section has just dropped,” Tucker told Wset ABC 13 about those around him in the stands. “We had the family from outside the city, its sponsors were here from Myrtle Beach. Everyone has just dropped. When I saw her go down, all I could do is get out of the stands. I just knew I had to get there.
“She was a bit hysterical because she just couldn’t believe it was what had happened.”
Tucker said that a doctor was already with her daughter when she got on the track.
Everett and all his team were disqualified to “contact the interference”.
Vincent Pugh, former Sports Director of Citywide in Portsmouth public schools, questioned the validity of disqualification, arguing that a game game showed that Tucker was running close to Everett.
Baton held by Kiersten Duncan de LSU in the starting blocks of the 87th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at the Mike A. Myers stadium. (Kirby Lee-USA today Sport)
“If a person arrives outside, she had to be one step ahead before being able to cut before me,” Pugh told Wavy.
Virginia High School League (VHSL) has published a statement to PK Press Club Digital on this subject.
“The VHSL does not comment on individuals or disciplinary measures due to FERPA,” said the League Declaration. “The measures taken by the director of the meeting to disqualify the runner were appropriate and correct. We examine in depth each body like this which involves the safety of players with participating schools. Membership in VHSL has always made the priority to give students-athletes a safe environment for competition.”
