Track and field is typically a non-contact sport, but that was far from the case at a recent high school meet in Virginia, where a runner was violently struck with a baton during a relay event.
The altercation occurred during the 4×200 meter relay at the VHSL Class 3 State Indoor Championships at Liberty University on Friday. In the second leg of the race, Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker attempted to move into lane one while battling for second place in the lead pack. Her opponent seemingly allowed her to pas only to attack her from behind moments later.
Video footage from the race shows Tucker’s opponent striking her in the head from behind with a baton, causing Tucker to collapse to the ground, clutching her head in pain.
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 told 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, feeling pain in her head, did not continue the race. A doctor later diagnosed her with a concussion and a “possible fractured skull.”
Her opponent was swiftly disqualified, but according to Tucker’s parents, neither the runner nor her coach apologized following 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.”
Needless to say, this incident sparked outrage on social media.
“This is assault. She should be charged and never allowed to run track again. Disgusting that the coach won’t even apologize,” one person wrote in a post on X.
“Since when do we not prosecute violent attackers? Lock this dangerous girl up,” someone else added.
“FILE CHARGES– that is clearly an assault. She should be banned from sports for LIFE,” another person added.
“What kind of stupid is this? The attacker should be DQ’d, charged with assault/battery, and barred from running track ever again,” someone else said.
It remains uncertain whether Tucker will pursue legal action.
