Olivia Burke
A high school athlete who has been accused of smacking her rival in the head during a relay race has spoken out about the controversy.
Alaila Everett has insisted there is more to the baton saga than meets the eye, warning people that they are only seeing 'one angle' of a 'nine second video'.
She is at the centre of a sport row after fellow competitor Kaelen Tucker was left with a concussion and a possible skull fracture in wake of the incident which unfolded at Virginia's Liberty University last Tuesday (4 March).
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Both of the girls were competing in the 4x200m relay final at the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 3 State Indoor Championships.
But the competitiveness between them appeared to turn cutthroat when Tucker overtook her opponent.
Take a look at what Everett had to say about the incident here:
Tucker was representing Brookville High School in the second leg of the race when she was hit on the back of the head with a baton.
But according to her rival from I.C. Norcom High School, the powerful strike was not intentional and it was a result of her 'losing her balance' while running.
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Speaking to WAVYTV10, Everett explained: "After a couple times of hitting her with my baton, I got stuck behind her back and [the baton] rolled up her back.
"I lost my balance, and when I pumped my arms again, she got hit. I know my intentions and I would never hit somebody on purpose."
Her parents added that they 'knew 100 percent' that their daughter did not deliberately hit Tucker, who was seen staggering off the track and falling onto the floor.
Everett has been met by a host of backlash in the sporting community and on social media after footage of the incident went viral.
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The tearful teen said: "Everybody has feelings, so you're physically hurt but you are not thinking about my mental, right? They are going off of one angle.
"They're assaulting my character, calling me ghetto, racist slurs, death threats, all of this, just because of a nine second video."
Tucker seemed to have a different perspective on the baton bashing when she shared her side of the story.
"When you go to the other side of the track, you have to cross into lane one, you have to merge in," Tucker told WSLS. "As I was coming up on her, she kind of like made me get cut off a little bit, so I backed away.
"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."
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Tucker claims she was struck on the head as she pulled ahead of her opponent while spectators watched on from the stands.
Speaking to ABC13 News about her ordeal, Tucker said: "I still can't believe it, I'm in shock. I'm still trying to take it all in, I can't believe it happened."
According to the publication, the baton-wielding athlete was disqualified by judges for the foul, which is known as 'contact interference'.
Tucker's mother, Tamarrow, rushed onto the track to check on her daughter alongside medical staff - although she claims Everett didn't offer any apology for the incident at the time.
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"No apologies," the frustrated parent said. "No coaches. No athlete. No anything. Even if it was an accident, which I don't believe it was... nothing."
Everett insisted she does want to apologise to her injured opponent, but claimed that Tucker has not been 'receptive' and has blocked her on social media.
Her parents also claim that the Tucker family served them with court papers, calling for a protective order to be put in place.
Doctors have been treating Tucker for concussion and a possible skull fracture in the wake of the incident.
"I could feel like a headache coming up, so I just sat out," the high school student also told WSLS. "I recently went to the doctor, and they prescribed me with a concussion and a possible fractured skull."
Tucker's family earlier demanded an apology and an explanation from the fellow relay racer, with the teen saying: "Why did you do it, and why haven't you apologised?"
According to the high school student's mother, the VHSL said it has launched an investigation into the incident.
VHSL told ABC13 that the 'actions taken by the meet director was appropriate and correct', adding that the incident was 'a serious issue, especially when it involves the safety of athletes in competitions'.
Tucker said they have also contacted the runner's parents and I.C. Norcom AD, who both later said sorry on her behalf.
"They were beside us at the event," the family added. "They were watching the video at the event, but no one apologised or came to check on her.
"Even if it was a fluke or freak accident, you still would check on her."
LADbible has contacted VHSL for further comment.