A Virgina high school sprinter has suffered a concussion and a potential skull fracture after a competitor hit her in the back of the head with a relay baton during a race.
Kaelen Tucker, from Brookville High School, competed in the race last week (March 4) and was the second leg runner for the 4×200 meter relay at Liberty University in Virgina.
Footage shows the sprinter attempting to cut into the lane during a battle for second place, but what happened after that was truly shocking.
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While Tucker's opponent did not block her entering the lane during the race, video footage does appear to show the unidentified competitor slow down before moving her arm back and striking Tucker on the head.
You can hear an audible gasp from the audience following the incident, as Tucker understandably fell to the floor clutching her head in what would have surely been a painful one.
Recalling the incident to WSLS, the sprinter said: "When you go to the other side of the track, you have to cross into lane one, you have to merge in. As I was coming up on her, she kind of like made me get cut off a little bit, so I backed away.
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"Then, as we got around the curve, she kept bumping me in my arm. Then finally we got off the curve, I like slowly started passing her and then that’s when she just hit me with the baton and I fell off the track."
Tucker continued: "I could feel like a headache coming up, so I just sat out. I recently went to the doctor, and they prescribed me with a concussion and a possible fractured skull."
The athlete's family are now hoping an apology will come their way, which they say was lacking after the incident had occurred prior to the weekend.
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"They were beside us at the event. They were watching the video at the event, but no one apologized or came to check on her," Tucker's family told WSLS.
"Even if it was a fluke or freak accident, you still would check on her."
Tamarro, Tucker's mother, has reportedly called the sport's governing body, who say they have launched an investigation into the alleged assault.
Heritage (Lynchburg) High School was running out in front before the incident but ultimately finished fifth in the heats.
Callum Jones