DaytonDailyNews.com

MIDDLETOWN — Trotwood-Madison got its outdoor season off to a good start by taking the Middie Showdown crown with 136 points. Middletown came in second with 97.

It's the first of many the Rams hope to claim.

"We placed in the events we expected to place in," Trotwood coach John McKinney said. "We felt if we could score in the field events, it would take the pressure off our runners and that's what happened."

The Rams received field event wins from Dominique Reed in the high jump (6-feet), as well as in the shot put with Chris Freeman (52-3).

But the sprinters did what they had to do too.

"Our goal was to win this meet," said senior Michael Shaw after winning the 200-meter dash title.

But Middletown, even with a bevy of new faces, didn't back down. Junior Deejay Hunter won the 100 dash (11.13) and ran the last leg of the 400 relay to lead the Middies to the win in 43.32.

As Hunter crossed the finish line in the 400 relay, he gave a look to his left at Shaw and let out a celebratory yell.

"He was real excited about the win, but it was just one race they won out of the meet," Shaw said. "I told him not to get too excited about it."

The Trotwood girls placed third with 83 points, behind Middletown (104) and Lebanon (99).

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852 or sweaver@coxohio.com.