A high school athlete facing a misdemeanor assault and battery charge has spoken publicly for the first time, defending her actions following a widely circulated video of an incident during a track competition.
Alaila Everett, a student at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, became the center of national attention after footage showed her striking fellow runner Kaelen Tucker during a 4x200 meter relay at Liberty University in Lynchburg on March 4.
Tucker, a runner from Brookville High School, suffered a concussion and a possible skull fracture after being hit from behind with a relay baton. The video led many online to believe the strike was intentional, but Everett has consistently denied this, claiming it was an accident.
Everett Speaks Out at School Rally
As the fallout from the incident continues, Everett addressed a crowd of supporters outside her school, holding back tears as she expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you all for supporting me,” she said.
“Nobody else wanted to hear my story except for the people that know me and people that know.
“I would never do anything like that. I would never harm anybody.
"I'm not a fighter. I’m not even confrontational.
“I wouldn’t even do that on purpose and I thank y’all for believing in me and I love y’all.”
The rally came as Everett continues to face backlash on social media, with many questioning her version of events.
Everett’s Account of the Incident
Speaking to WAVYTV10, Everett explained what she says happened during the race.
"So, on the back curve, I kind of got cut off, and I tried to pass her the first time, so I let her go ahead,” she said.
"I knew when I got fully on the curve that I was just going to have to push through past her. So, as we were coming up in the middle of the curve, we were bumping arms a lot. So, I got a little more on the outside of the curve to go around her.
“After a couple times of hitting her with my baton, I got stuck behind her back like this and it rolled up her back.
“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."
Investigation and Legal Consequences
Despite her insistence that the strike was unintentional, Everett has been charged with misdemeanor assault and battery. The Virginia High School League is currently reviewing the incident, and the Portsmouth chapter of the NAACP is also involved.
Everett’s parents have stood by her, stating that they believe their daughter’s account.
“She wouldn’t intentionally try and hit an opponent,” her father told local media.
As the case moves forward, the track community and school officials continue to discuss the incident and whether further action should be taken.
