Usually when problems happen in the damp it is distrubor cap or wires. Since its high mileage and if you do not know when last changed, I would do cap, & rotor, plugs and wires. The middle plug on drivers side is tough search this forum and it will show you how to remove steering shaft or just leave that one for now until you get better starting and do that one another time.If it does not help you need to verify proper fuel pressure, there is a shrader valve back near the distributor which a guage hooks up to and I believe the spec is 62-66 psi any lower and injectors do not fire properly. The fuel pump is very sensitive to battery voltage, excessive cranking causes low voltage low pressure, jumping adds another vehicles battery increases voltage and can increase fuel pressure. Also search for the ignition key switch that many 97's had problems with I know they can cuse a bunch of problems not sure if starting is one. Good Luck