A Virginia high school track star, Kaelen Tucker, competed at the Class 3 Track and Field State Finals at Liberty University on Friday, March 7. While racing the 4X200 meter relay, as she was merging into lane one, one of her opponents hit her with her baton, causing her a concussion and a “possible fractured skull.”
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According to WSLS, Kaelen Tucker’s history with running track started at a young age. What started as her following her brother’s footsteps later turned into quite a successful high school track career. Her parents, of course, were extremely proud of her and her resilience.
As a junior at Brookville High School, on Friday’s competition, she competed in both the meter relay and also the 55-meter dash during the meet. She had already secured the silver medal for the 55-meter dash, as per the New York Post, so she was looking forward to securing another victory. However, things would not go as planned, and it had nothing to do with her skill.
Infraction
As Tucker was running and reaching turn four, she attempted to reach second place as she was among the athletes leading the race in the front pack. That’s when one of her opponents, an athlete from I.C. Norcom High School hit her with her baton, striking Tucker’s head.
“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,” Tucker told WSLS. “Then, as we got around the curve, she kept bumping me in my arm. 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.”
Kaelen Tucker immediately felt the effects of her injury. Her mother, Tamarro, rushed to her aid, as well as her trainers. While assessing her injuries, present officials disqualified Norcom High School due to the incident.
Effects
Tucker’s symptoms were later confirmed once she visited the doctor’s office. “I recently went to the doctor, and they prescribed me with a concussion and a possible fractured skull,” Tucker said.
As per WSLS, both Tamarro and Kaelen contacted both Norcom’s director and the father of the opposing athlete who hit Kaelen during the race. While they apologized for the incident, both Tamarro and Kaelen would have appreciated they have received such a response at the time of the race.
“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,” they said. “Even if it was a fluke or freak accident, you still would check on her.”
The Virginia High School League (VHSL) is currently investigating the incident. In an email sent to the outlet, the VHSL told them that the actions made by the meet director were “appropriate and correctly applied.”