Florida HS Track and Field Athlete May Sue Following Sucker Punch

According to multiple reports, the Florida high school track and field runner who was caught on film being run down from behind and sucker-punched during a race last week is considering pressing charges or filing a lawsuit against the student-athlete who hit him.

The video of the incident has gone viral across the internet and social media while creating headlines nationwide — and can be seen below.

The victim in question was taking part in the 1600 meters when another track and field athlete, who was not taking part in the race, ran him down from behind and punched him in the head. The shot knocked the runner to the ground.

The attorney for the runner who was punched, identified as Nathan Carter by TMZ.com, told that site that his client suffered a concussion from the blow and is considering suing. Carter also told TMZ that the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office’s claim that his client was not interested in pressing charges was not true.

High school track race fight club pic.twitter.com/0nbDRz5Iur

— Baseball Fight Club (@mlb_fights) March 29, 2022

According to reports, the athlete who threw the punch was not participating in the race but was on the track when the athlete who was running told him to get off the track. On the next lap around, per reports, the athlete who was not competing was still on the track, and the athlete who was competing shoved him out the way. Reports say that is when the athlete who was not competing chased down the distance runner and punched him from behind.

“The family of the victim did want to press charges for this vicious attack and assault caught on video and witnessed by hundreds of people,” Carter told TMZ. “The OCSD deputy told the family that if (my client) pressed charges then he would also be arrested for battery. Only because of that threat did the family choose not to press charges.”

Carter also blamed a lack of “proper officials” at the meet — noting they could have moved the athlete who was not competing from the track before the first incident, the second incident, or prevented the punch — but did not.

“They had many opportunities to prevent this and failed to do so,” he said.