Rayen's teams rule; MVPs have their day

Deon Elliott, Jessica Anderson and Erica Wilson earned honors.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Deon Elliott and Marcel Finkley aren't joined at the hip, but it sometimes seems that way.
The Rayen Tigers tandem match each other stride for stride, running together, hurting together, even ducking their heads at the finish line together.
At Tuesday's City Series meet, Finkley served as the shadow as Elliott won two of their three events to earn the running MVP for the second straight year.
"It feels good, but I really want to thank Marcel," Elliott, a sophomore, said. "He's the one who has pushed me all year. He beats me every day in practice."
Together, they helped the Tigers win their third straight league title, easily beating host Chaney, 93-51. Wilson and Canton Timken tied for third with 40.
Working together
Chaney sophomore Clarence Howell pulled off the meet's biggest surprise, edging teammate Cameron Widget in the long jump. Howell injured his hip flexor and his hamstring early in the season and had not long jumped this spring.
"It was real frustrating," Howell said. "I had worked real hard in the weight room during the winter and I was hungry for it. I wanted to do well."
Widget, who struggled with injury last year before advancing to the state meet, made sure Howell didn't get too frustrated.
"The same thing happened to me last year and I just told him to rest and come back for the City meet, because that's when the season really starts," Widget said.
"He's a good mentor," Howell said of Widget. "I wouldn't be as dedicated as I am if he weren't here."
He also might not have beat Widget.
"That's OK, I'm better when the pressure is on," Widget said. "I'll get him back at districts."
Timken junior Doug Scheetz won the shot put and the discus to earn the field event MVP.
Girls
Jessica Anderson won the 800, 1600 and 3200 to lead Rayen to its third straight girls title as the Tigers edged Chaney and Wilson, 91-53. Timken placed fourth with 27 points.
Anderson earned the running MVP.
"It's a shock -- I thought somebody else was going to win it," Anderson said. "I'm very excited."
Anderson also anchored the winning 4x800 relay as the Tigers swept all four relays.
Rayen senior Erica Wilson won the long jump and the high jump to share the field event MVP with Wilson senior Clarissa Nadal, who won both throwing events.
Wilson, who also won last year's field MVP, strained her knee during the long jump, but the injury wasn't serious.
Last year, Nadal won the discus and finished second in the shot put behind Michelle Curry.
"I was thinking, 'I can't wait until she graduates,' " Nadal said with a laugh. "This feels great. It's the highlight of my season and the highlight of my senior year."
Nadal didn't rest after the field events -- she also finished fifth in the 100 hurdles. "I was just giving it my all, trying to get all the points for my teammates," she said. "I wouldn't have been able to do it unless my coaches had believed in me."
scalzo@vindy.com