LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — The indoor track and field season came to an end for Class 3 athletes at Liberty University on Tuesday.
For one Brookville racer, however, the end came earlier than expected, thanks to a vicious, in-race attack. Now, she and her family want to know why it happened.
Junior Kaelen Tucker had already set a new meet record in the 55-meter dash on Monday. Tuesday saw Tucker racing the second leg of the 4×200 relay finals with her Brookville teammates.
Mother Tamarrow Tucker was in the stands watching her daughter, saying “I told my husband ‘she’s doing what she needs to do…she’s gonna get back to where she needs to be.'”
As Tucker passed the racer on the inside from I.C. Norcom High School, she felt a blow to the back of her head – the baton from the Norcom racer, who swung at Tucker, knocking her to the ground, and out of the race.
“I still can’t believe it, I’m in shock,” said Tucker, who is resting in her Campbell County home with her family. “I’m still trying to take it all in, I can’t believe it happened.”
Judges spotted the foul immediately and disqualified the Norcom team for what is known as “contact interference” – interfering with another runner’s actions.
Tamarrow Tucker said medical staff immediately rushed to her daughter’s side, as she herself raced into the infield. One noticeable party missing, however, was the Norcom coaches, or the athlete herself, who the Tuckers say never came to apologize or explain themselves. “No apologies. No coaches. No athlete. No anything. Even if it was an accident, which I don’t believe it was…nothing.”
Doctors are currently treating Tucker for a concussion, and a possible skull fracture. Now the family says all they want is an apology and an explanation, as Kaelen Tucker is left to wonder “Why did you do it, and why haven’t you apologized?”
Tamarrow Tucker says she spoke to the VHSL on the phone, who said they are investigating the incident. ABC13 also reached out to the VHSL to ask about their investigation on Wednesday afternoon.
On Thursday they responded, saying that they do not comment on individuals or disciplinary actions, but that “the actions taken by the meet director was appropriate and correct.” VHSL said they were still reviewing the situation and commented that it is “a serious issue, especially when it involves the safety of athletes in competitions.”
The Tuckers say they also reached out to both the parent of the runner who hit Kaelen and the IC Norcom AD, who both apologized on the student’s behalf. Kaelen Tucker says she hopes to be back and ready for outdoor track season.
