A Virginia High School athletics runner who saw the baton smashing hard into his opponent's head during a relay race, spoke about the backlash she received while claiming the incident was an accident.
IC Norcom High School senior Araira Everett gave his opponent, Brookville junior Karen Tucker a concussion and a fractured skull when he knocked his head down with the baton at an event Tuesday. Everett claims that the attack occurred as he lost his balance and the baton “stuck” behind the opponent's head.
“After hitting her several times, my baton stuck behind her back like this, which rolled her back. When I pumped my arm again, I lost my balance. “I know my intentions and I wouldn't intentionally hit anyone.”
Everett also said that she caused physical pain for Tucker, but she didn't sympathize with Everett's own “mental” effect.
“You're physically hurt because everyone has feelings, but you're not thinking about my mind,” Everett said. “They assume my personality and call me a ghetto and racial slander, a death threat… this is all from a nine-second video.”
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Everett's mother, Zeketa Kost, told Wavy he doesn't believe her daughter did it intentionally.
“I didn't have to watch the first video, the second video, or the 10th video. I know 100% that she wouldn't do that to anyone,” Cost says.
The family alleged that they were provided with court documents over the case and that Everett tried to apologise to Tucker, but the concussion blocked Everett on social media.
Tucker's mother, Tamarow Tucker, said Thursday she hadn't received an apology to Wset ABC 13.
“It wasn't all my apology,” Tamarow said. “We don't have any coaches or athletes. If it were an accident, I don't think it was an accident, but we don't do anything. It's been over 24 hours now, and I think that was a big deal.
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Starting block and baton in Franklinfield's 120th Penn relay. (Kirby Lee-Usa Today Sports)
Tucker recounts the incident and says the entire section was breathless when he saw the baton bashing repeatedly.
“The whole section was out of breath,” Tucker told WSET ABC 13 of the people around the bleachers. “We had our family out of town. Her godparent was here from Myrtle Beach. Everyone was out of breath.
“She couldn't believe it was something that happened, so it was a bit hysterical.”
Tucker said Medic was already with her daughter when she got off the truck.
Everett and her entire team were disqualified for “contact interference.”
Vincent Pugh, former Citywide athletics director at Portsmouth Public Schools, questioned the validity of the disqualification, claiming that with each play, Tucker showed he was running closely with Everett.
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The baton was held by LSU's Kiersten Duncan at the starting block of the 87th Clyte Littlefield Texas Relay at Mike A. Myers Stadium. (Kirby Lee-Usa Today Sports)
“If someone went outside, they would become a perfect step before me before cutting in front of me,” Pugh told Wavey.
The Virginia High School League (VHSL) has issued a statement to Fox News Digital on the issue.
“VHSL has not commented on individuals or disciplinary actions by FERPA,” the league statement read. “The actions taken by the tournament director to disqualify the runners were appropriate and correct. We thoroughly review all such instances with player safety with participating schools. VHSL membership always prioritizes providing student-athletes with a safe environment for competition.”
Scott Thompson of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
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