Virginia High School Track Star Struck in the Head with Baton During Race: 'I Was Just in Disbelief'

High school track events are competitive, but this incident from Virginia may have crossed the line—literally and figuratively.

Kaelen Tucker, a junior track star from Brookville High School, was struck in the head with a baton by an opponent from I.C. Norcom High School during the 4x200M relay final last Tuesday. Tucker, who had just set a state record in the 55-meter race the day before, was left with head injuries.

The incident occurred as Tucker was attempting to pass her opponent on a curve. According to Tucker, the two were "bumping arms" when she finally managed to push ahead. That’s when the opponent, in an alarming move, struck her with the baton. If that wasn’t enough, the baton was reportedly thrown in her direction afterward.

Race judges quickly disqualified the Norcom team for "contact interference." However, Tucker and her family are still waiting for an apology—one that hasn’t come. "Even if it was an accident, which I don’t believe, no one came to check on her," said her mother, Tamarrow Tucker.

The video evidence of the incident has left many spectators stunned. Tamarrow described the moment as a collective gasp in the bleachers. "When I saw her go down, all I could do was run out of the bleachers," she said. "She was kind of hysterical because she just couldn’t believe that’s what had happened."

Kaelen was evaluated by a doctor on Friday and is dealing with concussion symptoms, swelling, and a possible skull fracture. Unsurprisingly, she’s been benched from the track until she fully recovers.

The Virginia High School League (VHSL) confirmed that an investigation is underway, and both schools are cooperating. While the league stated that the meet director's decision to disqualify the runner was "appropriate and correct," they declined to comment further due to privacy rules.

When asked what she would say to the opponent who hit her, Kaelen had one simple question: "Why did you do it? And why haven’t you apologized yet?"

For now, the Tucker family is weighing their options, including potential criminal charges. Tamarrow expressed empathy for the opposing runner, acknowledging, "She is somebody else’s child." Even so, the lack of accountability remains a sore point.

This incident has sparked discussions about sportsmanship, safety, and consequences in high school athletics. While competition is fierce, one thing is clear—there’s no room for violence on the track.