The indoor track championships at Virginia High School took a wrong turn when a runner used her relay baton as a weapon against an opponent, causing an uproar throughout the world of sports.

However, the track star said that it was never her intention to hurt the other runner.

Disturbing Incident Unfolds at Indoor Track Event

Virginia Baton Attack: Track Star Says It Was Not Her Virginia Baton Attack: Track Star Says It Was Not Her
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At the VHSL Class 3 State Indoor Championships at Liberty University in Lynchburg during the 4x200m relay, there was a flash of aggression that surprised onlookers. According to a video posted by its onsite on Instagram, Brookville High School's Kaelen Tucker was passing effectively while on the second leg of the relay when her IC Norcom High School opponent made a sudden and brutal move.

Instead of participating in a clean race, the Norcom runner swung her baton and hit Tucker in the head. The stunning incident, which was recorded on video, caused gasps at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex as Tucker staggered and fell on the track.

Baton Attacker Claims It Was Not Intentional

The track star who struck the Baton at Kaelen's head claimed that it was not her intent to hurt her although the video may look intentional. The mother of the track star said that people shouldn't judge her daughter for what she did.


Instagram critics said that they were not "legally blind" to unsee the unfortunate moment. Some users urged the girl to apologize and be accountable for her actions.

Athlete Suffers Concussion After Baton Strike

Medical staff and Tucker's mother hurried over to her as the dazed crowd stood there in shock. Although the violence of the assault was evident, the Norcom runner kept on running, doing nothing to make sure Tucker was all right.

The Brookville runner was subsequently diagnosed with a concussion and is under observation for a potential skull fracture. "I'm still in shock," Tucker stated in an interview with WSET. "I can't believe it happened."

No Apologies from the Norcom Team After the Incident

Compounding the outrage, Tucker's mother, Tamarro Tucker, was angry that no one from Norcom's team—coaches or athletes—called her immediately after the incident.

According to Tamarro, no apologies were issued and nobody checked on her daughter. She was expecting some kind of acknowledgement, but they did not receive anything.

Officials Disqualified Norcom Relay Team

According to Marca, meet officials scrutinized the assault and immediately disqualified IC Norcom's relay team for "contact interference." The Virginia High School League (VHSL), which governs state athletic games, later issued a statement in support of the meet director's decision.

"The actions taken by the meet director were appropriate and correct," the VHSL said. "This is a serious issue, especially when it involves athlete safety in competition."