There was some trouble brewing at Florida high school track meet. Why? Because it’s Florida.
In a video that has gone viral, a high school track meet runner was sucker punched by a meet participant who seemingly had an unknown grudge to settle.
The video shows one figure in a black uniform rapidly approaching another in red and white and punching him in the back of the head. The hit runner collapses on the track. All the other competitors run past the fallen athlete before the short clip ends.
High school track race fight club pic.twitter.com/0nbDRz5Iur
— Baseball Fight Club (@mlbfights) March 29, 2022
What Happened?
According to reports, the incident occurred Saturday at Tohopekaliga Tiger Invitational in Kissimmee, Florida, during the 1,600 meters race. The apparent assault was caught on video; however, neither the perpetrator nor the victim was identified.
In addition, no charges were not filed against the athlete in the black uniform, according to reports from officers who arrived at the race.
According to reports, a spokesperson for the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said that officers were present at the event over the weekend. However, they reported that the victim did not want to press charges against the offending athlete.
But Were There Charges?
The victim apparently made contact with the accused just before the fateful punch in a cause-and-effect reaction to the events.
Initial reports describe the sequence of events as starting when the student-athlete in red reportedly pushed the runner in black earlier in the event for standing in the lane although not participating in the race. The eventual punch was in retribution to the prior on-track affront.
The respective schools for each student-athlete did not comment on the incident. However, it has been reported that the felled student did indeed finish the race.
The Result
There were no reported updates on the student-athlete’s condition or if any medical attention was needed. However, discipline is imminent.
The schools involved reportedly are cooperating with the Florida High School Athletic Association officials to determine the disciplinary actions needed to be handed down in the case.
March “Madness”
It tops off a month of slapable action from South Florida to Hollywood in sports and entertainment. UFC stars Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington took their in-cage hatred to the streets in Miami.
The two got into a scuffle outside of Papi Steak restaurant in Miami Beach on March 21. Masvidal is alleged to have brought the “Chaos” to Covington by sucker punching him as he exited the restaurant.
According to videos before the incident, Masvidal himself said that Covington disparaging his family, especially his children, in the media prompted the assault.
From High School To Hollywood
Since then, Masvidal has been charged in a case where many believe Covington asked for the real-world consequences but didn’t expect them. Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has even gone as far as presenting an online edict for the fighters in Covington’s division not to accept any fights against him.
Then there is the now-infamous sucker-slap heard around the world during the Oscars on Sunday. Actor Will Smith smacked comedian Chris Rock for joking about Smith’s wife’s short hair during an award presentation monologue.
Perhaps March will forever be deemed the month of slap infamy.
