More the better for Middies’ Edwards

“We want to go to state in the relay, especially,” said Edwards, who advanced to the regional in three events by placing among the top four in Friday’s Division I District meet at Welcome Stadium.

“We want everybody to go. Especially being my senior year. That would be the best.”

Friday was the first postseason test. Competitors must place among the top four to advance to next week’s D-I regional, also at Welcome. The top four regional placers qualify for the state meet at Ohio State in two weeks.

Edwards was at her best, advancing in the 400 meters (second) and 200 (third) and taking a turn on the winning 4x100 relay. Those were the same three events that she qualified for in the 2012 regional.

This time she’s more confident. The stinging memory of having last season end at the regional level also serves as constant motivation.

“I felt like I could have done better, but I qualified for the regionals,” she said, exhausted. “We’ll do better next week.”

Middletown sophomore sprinter Shania Purifoy continues to impress. She sped to third in the 100 and anchored the 4x100 relay before wilting in the 200.

“We’re just excited to be here,” she said. “Everybody has worked really hard to do their best. I’m proud of my team.”

The Middies can also be proud of senior Jalin Marshall. He won the high jump on fewer misses at 6 feet, two inches. He also was second in the long jump (22-1) during last Wednesday’s rain-abbreviated opening day.

Middies sophomore Y’vonte Glover added another win, taking the discus also on Wednesday (148-10). Middletown junior Chance Sorrell was third in the discus (140-8).

That accounted for most of the Middie boys’ 56.5 points, which was good for fifth in the team race.