Alaila Everett has shared her perspective after a shocking moment at a high school track event went viral, showing an opponent being struck in the head with a baton.

The incident took place on March 7 during a 4×200 meter relay at Liberty University in Virginia. Kaelen Tucker, a sprinter from Brookville High School, suffered a concussion and a possible skull fracture after being hit on the back of the head with a baton.

The video of the moment quickly spread across social media, with many viewers assuming the strike was intentional.

Tucker, running the second leg of the relay, had just passed Everett, a runner from I.C. Norcom High School, on the bend of the track when the incident occurred. Spectators audibly gasped as Tucker collapsed to the ground from the impact. The clip prompted an outcry online, with many calling for Everett to be banned from competition.

However, Everett has now spoken out, claiming the incident was an accident. In an emotional interview with WAVY TV 10, she defended herself, saying she never meant to harm her competitor.

“Everybody has feelings,” she said tearfully. “You’re physically hurt, but you’re not thinking about my mental [health], right? They are going off of one angle.”

Meanwhile, Tucker’s mother, Tamarro, has contacted the sport’s governing body, which has reportedly launched an official investigation into the incident.

As tensions remain high, the controversy continues to unfold, with many awaiting the results of the inquiry to determine whether Everett’s actions were indeed accidental or if further consequences should follow.