High school athlete injured in shocking track meet incident
A disturbing incident at a Virginia high school track meet on Friday left Brookville High School sprinter Kaelen Tucker with severe injuries. While competing in the 4×200 meter relay at Liberty University, Tucker was struck on the back of the head by an opposing runner’s baton, resulting in a concussion and a suspected skull fracture that required immediate medical attention.
Shocking video footage goes viral
Video footage shared on social media captures Tucker attempting to overtake a Norcom runner, who then violently swung her baton, striking Tucker on the head. The impact caused Tucker to stumble, slow down, and eventually collapse inside the track. Her mother and team trainers rushed to her side to provide assistance.
IC Norcom team disqualified
Following the incident, IC Norcom High School’s team was disqualified from the competition due to “contact interference.” Meanwhile, Kaelen Tucker expressed her shock over the event, explaining what happened moments before she was struck.
“When you go to the other side of the track, you have to cross into lane one, you have to merge in. 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 arms. 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,” Tucker told WSLS TV.
Mother expresses outrage over lack of concern
Tucker’s mother, Tamarro Tucker, voiced her disappointment that no one from the I.C. Norcom High School team checked on her daughter after the disturbing incident.
“No apologies. No coaches. No athlete. No anything. Even if it was an accident, which I don’t believe it was, nothing,” she said.
