Runner who ‘attacked’ opponent with baton speaks out to crowd following assault charge

Everett has denied intentionally striking the other runner(ABC News)

“I knew when I got fully on the curve that I was just going to have to push through past her. So, as we were coming up in the middle of the curve, we were bumping arms a lot. So, I got a little more on the outside of the curve to go around her.

“After a couple times of hitting her with my baton, I got stuck behind her back like this and it rolled up her back.

“I lost my balance, and when I pumped my arms again, she got hit. I know my intentions and I would never hit somebody on purpose.”

Everett’s mother and father believe her version of events, and have insisted she wouldn’t intentionally try and hit an opponent.