Virginia high school track sprinter Kaelen Tucker…
A Virginia high school sprinter suffered a concussion and potential cranium fracture when her competitor smashed her within the back of her head with a relay baton during their race.
Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker was the second leg runner for the 4×200 meter relay on the VHSL Class 3 State Indoor Championships at Liberty University on Friday.
Tucker – who had earned silver within the woman’s 55m sprint earlier within the meet – was trying to cut into lane one during a battle for second place within the entrance pack as she was rounding flip 4.
Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker races within the 4×200 meter relay on the VHSL Class 3 State Indoor Championships at Liberty University on March 7, 2025. Facebook
Instead of blocking her entry, Tucker’s opponent — who attended IC Norcom High School — seemingly slowed down, wound up her arm back and smacked the baton throughout the Brookville runner’s head, in line with a video of the incident.
“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 defined to WSLS.
“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.”
An audible gasp was heard from the group inside the Lynchburg, Va. advanced as Tucker detoured off the track, grabbing her head and falling to the ground.
Tucker’s mom and crew trainers rushed to the ailing high schooler’s facet.
Kaelen Tucker says she suffered a concussion and a attainable fractured cranium during the race. WSLS 10/YouTube
“I could feel a headache coming up, so I just stood out,” Tucker stated.
Tucker stopped operating, pulling her crew out of the race. A physician later recognized her with a concussion and “possible fractured skull.”
iC Norcom was disqualified from the race for the coed’s actions.
Tucker grabs her head as she falls to the ground off the track. Facebook
Tucker stopped operating, pulling her crew out of the race. Facebook
The quick-action self-discipline wasn’t enough for Tucker or her household, who claimed IC Norcom’s coach nor the runner apologized to them.
“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,” the Tucker’s mother and father informed the outlet. “Even if it was a fluke or freak accident, you still would check on her.”
Tucker’s mother, Tamarro, says she referred to as the sporting physique, who’ve opened up an investigation into the alleged assault.
Heritage (Lynchburg) High School, who was main the race on the time of the suspected assault, ended up successful the third heat with a time of 1:47.98, good enough for a fifth-place general end.
Tucker poses after putting first during a meet in January 2025. Tamarro Tucker/Facebook
In March 2022, a Florida high school runner was sucker-punched during a race by one other student-athlete who wasn’t even competing within the occasion.
The runner attacked during the 1,600-meter race on the Tohopekaliga Tiger Invitational in Kissimmee suffered a concussion.
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