The indoor track championships in Virginia were marred by a brutal attack by one runner when she used the baton in her relay race as a weapon against an opponent.
The attack took place during the 4x200M Relay event of the VSHL Class 3 State Indoor Championships on the Campus of Liberty University in Lynchburg.
Kaelen Tucker ran the second stage of the relay for the Brookville High School in Lynchburg when she started making a pass around another runner in a fight for second place.
Instead of fighting fairly, her opponent in that battle – who went to the IC Norcom High School in the Hampton Roads area of ​​the state – decided to take more aggressive action.
The Norcom Harderloper injured her right arm and hit the baton she was wearing Tucker's head, as seen on video of the incident.
Happen were heard in the Liberty Indoor Track complex when Tucker delayed, stumbled and then fell on the ground on the interior of the track.
Brookville High School Runner Kaelen Tucker (circled) was hit on the head with a stick
Tucker started passing an opposite runner when she was beaten on the head, so she fell
Her mother and team trainers turned out to hurry when the Norcom Runner seemed to be on their way.
“I still can't believe it, I'm in shock.” Tucker, who, according to her family, said at home, according to the local ABC -Lieden WSET. “I still try to take it, I can't believe it happened.”
Judges at the meeting could see the attack and the disqualified team of Norcom for 'contact interference' – or physically disrupt the actions of another runner.
WSET says that Tucker is currently being treated for a concussion and a possible skull fracture.
The mother of the runner, Tamarro Tucker, told the newsstation that nobody from the Norcom team came to check if her daughter was in order.
Moreover, her mother says that none of the team has offered any form of apologies for the behavior of their runner immediately after it happened.
“No apologies. No coaches. No athlete. Nothing. Even if it was an accident that I believe it was not … nothing, “Tamarro Tucker said.
Kaelen told the newsstation that everything she wants to know is: “Why did you do it and why didn't you apologize?”
Kaelen, depicted at a meeting in January, says that the runner did not apologize for her actions
In a statement to WSET, the VSHL – the administrative body for Virginia High School Sports – said that they do not comment on individuals or disciplinary actions, but added: 'The actions taken by the Meet Director was [sic] appropriate and correct. '
They added VSHL that they continued to revise the situation and called it a serious problem, especially when it concerns the safety of athletes in competitions. '
The Tucker family says they have contacted the parent of the runner who hit Ic Norcom after the incident Kaelen and the athletic director. Both have apologized on behalf of the student.
It is not clear whether the Tucker family is considering submitting costs.
