Alaila Everett, an I.C. Norcom alumni, insists that the incident was an accident and that she would not intentionally hurt anyone.
Highlights
- Alaila Everett, a senior track athlete from I.C. Norcom High School, struck her competitor Kaelen Tucker in the head with a baton during the 4×200 meter relay at the VHSL Class 3 State Indoor Championships, leading to Tucker’s withdrawal from the race and subsequent medical attention.
- Alaila’s parents, Zeketa Cost and Genoa Everett, have vigorously defended their daughter, insisting that the incident was accidental.
- The incident has sparked widespread debate and division within the community, with some condemning Alaila’s actions as intentional and others urging for a thorough investigation to consider the possibility of an accident.
Alaila Everett, a senior track athlete from I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, has recently been at the center of a controversy following an incident during the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 3 State Indoor Championships.
During the 4×200 meter relay, Everett struck fellow competitor Kaelen Tucker in the head with a baton, leading to Tucker’s immediate withdrawal from the race and subsequent medical attention.
High school student Kaelen Tucker was attacked with a baton to the head during a race at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.#ContactSports #trackandfield #race #crime pic.twitter.com/Denjc8cm73
— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) March 9, 2025
The incident occurred as both athletes rounded a curve, with Tucker attempting to overtake Everett.
Video footage shows Everett swinging her baton and striking Tucker on the head.
Tucker immediately dropped her baton and clutched her head in pain, later being diagnosed with a concussion and a potential skull fracture.
It sounds like it. Here is the unedited clip from the local news outlet. It's at about the 1-minute mark. pic.twitter.com/4dX7HfaafJ
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 10, 2025
In the days following the event, the video circulated widely on social media, sparking debates about the intent behind Everett’s actions.
Many viewers expressed outrage, labeling the act intentional, while others called for a thorough investigation before concluding.
Kaelen’s Family Believes The Incident Was Intentional
Tucker and her family have expressed frustration over the incident.
They noted that neither Everett nor her coaches contacted her immediately after the event to check Tucker’s well-being.
Tucker’s mother stated,
To see that they kept running and she [did] not stop and check on my daughter… it couldn’t have been an accident.
13newsnow.com
The broader community has been divided in its response.
Some have condemned Everett’s actions, while others have urged understanding, emphasizing the need to consider the context and the possibility of an accident.
Alaila Everett And Her Parents Insist That The Hit Was Purely Accidental
Everett has publicly addressed the incident, maintaining that it was accidental.
She explained that her baton got caught during the race, causing her to lose balance, which led to the unintentional strike.
In an emotional interview, Everett stated,
I know my intentions and I would never hit someone on purpose.” She also shared the personal toll the incident has taken, mentioning that she has received racial slurs and death threats.
foxnews.com
Everybody has feelings, so you’re physically hurt, but you’re not thinking of my mental.
Full Interview of IC Norcom high school athlete – runner Alaila Everett who was losing a relay race & hit her opponent over the head w/ a metal baton.
— Just Lookin (@JustLookingMon) March 10, 2025
She says the video makes it look like it was on purpose & implies she is not getting enough compassion 🤷♀️ pic.twitter.com/YIdh98onlG
Everett’s mother, Zeketa Cost, a 1999 I.C. Norcom alumnus and former basketball player, has stood by her daughter’s account and expressed confidence in her character.
Cost remarked,
I didn’t have to see a first video, second video or tenth video. I know 100% that she would never do that to nobody.
foxnews.com
Zeketa wrote on Facebook,
It’s a reason why the NFL have replay with multiple angles…you can’t see everything with naked eye and ppl just don’t like truth
Facebook
Many of Alaila’s family members seem to share the same sentiment.
Her father, Genoa Everett, the CEO at ProSocial Citizens Inc. and a former Lieutenant at Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office and Virginia Department of Corrections, also defended his daughter.
He explained that Tucker came too close and attempted to cut off Alaila too soon while coming around the curve, which caused Alaila to lose her balance.
He stated that his daughter was trying to maintain her balance while ensuring her baton remained in her hands.
Genoa quoted,
When the young lady cut her off, my daughter couldn’t pump her arms… no control where your arms go.
13newsnow.com
A high school junior is recovering from a concussion after being struck in the head with a baton by a Portsmouth student-athlete during a race March 3.
— 13News Now (@13NewsNow) March 11, 2025
13News Now spoke to Alaila Everett's father, who maintained the incident was accidental.
Read more: https://t.co/UXDyTr1FWw pic.twitter.com/p5nCECAhpR
Genoa’s Facebook feed, which previously featured glimpses into his personal and professional life and celebrations of milestones, is now a platform for him to provide updates and express his frustrations about his daughter’s incident.
He wrote in one of his recent statuses,
We gonna fight for our family !!! It seems like fake news is really real to people these days. SMH
Facebook
Genoa, also an I.C. Norcom alumnus, was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in December 2024.
While The Investigation Is Ongoing, Alaila Has Been Served With A Protective Order
In the aftermath of the incident, Tucker’s family sought legal action, resulting in a protective order against Everett.
The Virginia High School League (VHSL) is investigating the matter to determine whether further action or sanctions are necessary.
NEW: The high school runner who is accused of attacking another runner in the head with a baton, says it was an accident and wants people to think about her feelings.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 10, 2025
Alaila Everett says the video is just one big misunderstanding.
The incident happened in the middle of a relay… pic.twitter.com/kGBl68t88g
I.C. Norcom High School has not released an official statement regarding the incident.
However, it has been reported that the school’s athletic director and Everett’s father apologized to Tucker’s family.
Despite these gestures, tensions remain high as the community awaits the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
This father’s lying, badly.
— Tony White (@TheOGNubz) March 11, 2025
I ran the 4×100 & 4×400 in middle & high school. No relay runner’s ever wound up their arm like that. That’s a swing meant to hit something with a blunt weapon, which his daughter did.
Sounds like the daughter isn’t the only 1 who needs investigated
I believe her. Nobody would intentionally hit another person in the head with a crowd watching. They were running very close, and it is entirely possible it was an accident. However, the news said she did not apologize, which if true is uncool. People need to calm down and…
— Casey (@caseywickland) March 10, 2025
The incident involving Alaila Everett and Kaelen Tucker has sparked widespread discussion about sportsmanship, intent, and the pressures young athletes face. Some have even drawn parallels with the infamous 1994 Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan incident.
As the investigation continues, both families grapple with the emotional and social ramifications of that day’s events.
The broader athletic community is watching closely, hoping for a resolution emphasizing understanding, accountability, and the well-being of all involved.
Additional Information
- Alaila Everett’s mother attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, where she studied business.
- While Kaelen Tucker’s family has filed for a protective order against Alaila Everett, no assault charges have been filed.
- Some notable alumni from I.C. Norcom High School are Ruth Brown (a pioneering rhythm and blues singer), E. J. Josey (an African-American activist who made significant contributions to the field of librarianship), James W. Holley III (a former mayor of Portsmouth, VA), and Junius Kellogg (a basketball player and coach who is credited with exposing a major point-shaving scandal in college basketball).
