American female runner uses baton to hit opponent, suspected of cracking skull

At the Virginia Class 3 Indoor Track and Field Championships finals at Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia, USA) on March 5, Kaelen Tucker, a junior at Brookville High School, passed an athlete from IC Norcom High School to take second place at a corner.

Suddenly, Kaelen was attacked from behind by her opponent with a baton in the head. She staggered and then fell to the ground, unable to continue playing.

IC Norcom was immediately disqualified for obstructing an opponent and unsportsmanlike conduct. Kaelen was later hospitalized and diagnosed with a concussion and possible skull fracture. She remained in the hospital for observation.

The baton in an athletics relay is a round cylinder, usually made of light metal such as aluminum or alloy, about 30 cm long and about 4 cm in diameter.

In an interview with ABC 13 News, Kaelen expressed shock and confusion about the incident: "I'm still trying to understand what happened, I can't believe this," the student said.

Kaelen’s mother, Tamarrow Tucker, witnessed the entire incident from the stands. She said IC Norcom has yet to offer an apology or explanation.

To date, the identity of the athlete who attacked Kaelen has not been revealed.

According to ABC13, the Virginia High School League (VHSL) is investigating the incident, while the motive of the IC Norcom runner remains unclear.

When contacted by WSLS 10, VHSL wrote in an email that it "does not comment on individuals or disciplinary actions. The actions taken by the Organizing Committee were appropriate and properly applied." They also emphasized that they were looking into the incident, considering it "a serious matter, when it comes to the safety of runners in races."

This is not the first time a brawl has occurred at a high school track meet in the United States. In 2023, a runner was punched to the ground during a 1,600-meter race in Kissimmee, Florida.