PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Alaila Everett, a track star and senior at I.C. Norcom High School, is speaking out about shocking footage showing her strike an opponent in the head with her baton and allegedly injuring her during a relay race.
Everett said there’s more to the viral clip than meets the eye.
Everett would’ve never imagined her trip to the Class 3 State Indoor Championships on Tuesday would take a drastic turn.
“It’s like they are going off of one angle,” Everett said.
She and Kaelen Tucker, a junior at Brookville High School, were competing in the 4×200-meter relay when they nearly collided with each other while rounding a curve on the track.
“After a couple times of hitting her, my baton got stuck behind her back … and it rolled up her back. I lost my balance when I pumped my arms again. She got hit,” Everett said.
Everett said the incident was accidental.
“I know my intentions and I would never hit someone on purpose,” she said.
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Everett’s parents are outraged by the backlash.
“I didn’t have to see a first video, second video or tenth video. I know 100 percent that she would never do that to nobody,” Zeketa Cost, Everett’s mother, said.
The I.C. Norcom High School team was ultimately disqualified, which Vincent Pugh, former Citywide Athletic Director at Portsmouth Public Schools, found questionable. He said a play-by-play showed that Turner was running closely to Everett.
“If a person comes up on the outside, they got to be a full stride ahead of me before they can cut in front of me,” Pugh said.
The Tuckers spoke with WSLS in Roanoke and said they are seeking an apology from Everett. She revealed she has made efforts to get in contact with Tucker but has been blocked by her on social media. Moreover, the Everett family was served with court papers as the Tuckers wanted a protective order.
“It doesn’t seem right that this would happen and now we have to go to a city three hours away that everyone hates our guts already,” Genoa Everett, her father, said.
“They are assuming my character, calling me ghetto and racial slurs, death threats… all of this off of a nine second video,” Alaila Everett said.
Mike McCall, Director of Communications for the Virginia High School League, released a statement saying:
“We don’t comment on individuals or disciplinary actions. I can tell you that the actions taken by the meet director were appropriate and correct. We are still reviewing the situation but that’s all I have for you right now. It’s a serious issue especially when it involves the safety of athletes in competitions.”
Additionally, Lauren Nolasco, Portsmouth Public Schools Director of Communications, provided the following statement:
“The division immediately reported the incident to the Virginia High School League (VHSL), which is still investigating. We are cooperating with the VSHL in its work. The division will support and follow the ruling that comes from the VHSL upon its completed investigation.”