$25 NL: Should I have just folded preflop?

[jskinn04]

Where did this one go wrong? Should I have just folded the flop in such a multiway pot?

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

UTG+2 ($13.15)
Hero ($35.65)
MP2 ($11.65)
MP3 ($13.60)
CO ($31.81)
Button ($6.95)
SB ($8.06)
BB ($9.91)
UTG ($30.06)
UTG+1 ($7.94)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. CO posts a blind of $0.35. SB posts a blind of $0.10.
UTG calls $0.25, UTG+1 calls $0.25, UTG+2 calls $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, MP2 calls $0.25, MP3 calls $0.25, CO (poster) checks, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, SB (poster) completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($2.35) 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(9 players)</font>
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, UTG+2 checks, Hero checks, MP2 checks, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 bets $1</font>, CO calls $1, SB folds, BB folds, UTG folds, UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 folds, Hero calls $1, MP2 folds.

Turn: ($5.35) 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
Hero checks, MP3 checks, <font color="#CC3333">CO bets $2.17</font>, Hero calls $2.17, MP3 folds.

River: ($9.69) J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $2.5</font>, CO moves all-in, Hero folds.

[Wada]

I think at the turn. I would have atleast put in a raise on the turn about the size of the pot.

[notevenhere]

No way I am folding 97s in a pot this multiway. Implied odds are way too nice. Technically, you didn't know it would be this multiway, but I think a PF call is valid.

Bet the turn at least half pot. Checking puts you in a real awkward river position.

As played, I C/C the river hoping to see a cheap showdown.