Viral Video: Accident or Dirty Play? US High School Race Turns Ugly as Runner Strikes Rival with Baton, Later Issues Justification, Watch

Viral Video: A video of a high school 4x200m relay race at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, has gone viral, showing a shocking moment where a competitor struck another runner with a baton on her head. The incident has sparked widespread debate, with many accusing the girl of intentionally hitting her competitor and causing her to fall. The video has been widely shared on social media, attracting both national and international attention. Meanwhile, the accused US high school student, Alaila Everett, is facing intense backlash and trolling online.

Viral Video Sparks Outrage as US High School Runner Struck During Race

A video of the incident was uploaded on X (formerly Twitter) by a user named Collin Rugg. The caption described the shocking moment in detail. Reports indicate that the incident occurred at the VHSL Class 3 State Indoor Championships when high school athlete Kaelen Tucker was struck in the head with a baton during the race.

Watch Viral Video Here:

NEW: High school track runner gets attacked with a baton in the middle of a relay at the VSHL Class 3 State Indoor Championships.

Kaelen Tucker was on the second leg of the 4x200m relay at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, when she got smacked in the head.

Tucker suffered a… pic.twitter.com/DXPMwZcaRP

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 9, 2025

Tucker, who was running the second leg of the 4x200m relay at Liberty University, was hit by another competitor, allegedly causing her to fall. The impact reportedly left her with a concussion and a possible skull fracture. Describing the moment, Kaelen Tucker said, "She kept bumping into my arm on the curve. When I finally passed her, that’s when she hit me with the baton."

Tucker’s mother also expressed disappointment, revealing that neither the responsible runner nor her coach had reached out to apologize for the incident.

Alaila Everett Responds to Viral Video, Denies Intentional Attack

Following the controversy, 10th-grade student Alaila Everett has now responded to the viral video, stating that she did not deliberately hit Kaelen Tucker. Instead, she claimed that she lost her balance while running, which resulted in the accidental strike.

Watch Here:

Everett addressed the issue in a statement uploaded on WAVY TV 10’s YouTube channel. She explained that she suddenly lost control, and the baton in her hand accidentally hit Tucker, causing her to fall. She also emphasised that the viral video only shows a few seconds of the race and does not provide full context.

As the controversy unfolds, the video remains widely shared, keeping the debate alive about sportsmanship, competition ethics, and fair play in athletics.