Track and field is very much a non-contact sport, but that certainly was not the case at a recent high school track meet in Virginia when one runner violently attacked an opponent with a baton during a relay event.
The incident took place during the 4×200 meter relay at the VHSL Class 3 State Indoor Championships at Liberty University on Friday. During the second leg of the race, Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker attempted to cut into lane one during a battle for second place in the front pack. Tucker’s opponent seemingly allowed her to get in front, and then attacked her from behind.
In a video from the event, Tucker’s opponent can be seen hitting her in the head with her baton from behind, causing Tucker to fall to the ground grasping her head.
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
“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 explained 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.”
Tucker said that she could feel pain in her head so she did not continue the race. A doctor later diagnosed her with a concussion and a “possible fractured skull.”
The opponent was quickly disqualified from the event, but Tucker’s parents said that Tucker did not receive an apology from either her opponent or her coach after the incident.
“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,” Tucker’s parents told WSLS. “Even if it was a fluke or freak accident, you still would check on her.”
It’s not clear whether or not Tucker will file charges.
