Newly surfaced footage has offered a new perspective on the moment a high school runner seemingly struck an opponent over the head with a baton during a relay race.
As previously reported, the incident took place during the 4x200m relay at the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 3 State Indoor Championships on March 3.
A viral clip captured the moment I.C. Norcom High School athlete Alaila Everett appeared to lift her baton and hit Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker after Tucker attempted to pass her on the track.
Tucker, 16, later revealed in an interview with WSET ABC 13 that she suffered a concussion from the encounter and was being checked for a potential skull fracture.
"As we were coming up in the middle of the curve, we were bumping arms a lot," she said. "So, I got a little more on the outside of the curve to go around her. When I finally pushed through to get in front of her, that’s when she hit me in the head with the baton.
"I was so in disbelief. I didn't know what happened - I just got hit in the head and fell off the track," she added.
Everett has claimed that the strike was unintentional and a result of her losing balance mid-race.
"After a couple times of hitting her with my baton, I got stuck behind her back and [the baton] rolled up her back," she explained in an interview with WAVYTV10. "I lost my balance, and when I pumped my arms again, she got hit.
"I know my intentions, and I would never hit somebody on purpose," she added.
Her parents have also stood by her, stating they believe it was an accident and that Everett would never deliberately harm another runner.
WAVYTV10 released an alternative angle of the clash, filmed from behind, which Everett believes supports her claim that the contact was accidental.
Watch the video below:The high school athlete also spoke out about the backlash she has received since the footage first went viral on social media.
"Everybody has feelings, so you're physically hurt, but you are not thinking about my mental, right?" she said. "They are going off of one angle."
She also described the wave of online abuse she has endured, adding: "They're assaulting my character, calling me ghetto, racist slurs, death threats, all of this, just because of a nine-second video."
Everett said she tried to reach out to Tucker via social media but discovered she had been blocked. However, Tucker’s family claims neither Everett nor her coach attempted to contact them.
"To see that they [Everett] kept on running and she [did] not stop and check on my daughter... I was like it couldn't have been an accident," Tucker’s mother, Tamarrow, told Good Morning America.
Tucker's mother told WSET that no one from Norcom High School came over to check on her daughter - or apologize.
“My whole thing was no apology. Like, no coaches, no athlete, no anything. Even if it was an accident - which I don’t believe it was - but nothing. And it’s been more than 24 hours now. So I guess that was the major thing. My child was hurt, and nobody came to check on her," she said.
Tamarrow also revealed that she has reached out to the Virginia High School League (VHSL), which has confirmed an ongoing investigation.
In a statement to PEOPLE, the VHSL said: "The actions taken by the meet director to disqualify the runner were appropriate and correct. We thoroughly review every instance like this that involves player safety with the participating schools. The VHSL membership has always made it a priority to provide student-athletes with a safe environment for competition."
The shocking injury forced Tucker to miss the final races of her season - a heartbreaking setback for the athlete, who had just set a new meet record in the 55-meter dash before the incident.