Truman grad takes over Belton football

Kevin Keeton was in the right place at the right time.
The 1995 Truman High School graduate and 2000 William Jewell College graduate is the new football coach at Belton High School.
He replaces Jeff Gourley, who resigned to become the new football coach at Olathe (Kan.) South. Gourley was at Belton for 12 years, including the last eight as the head coach. They were 9-4 last year and advanced to the Class 5 state championship, falling 17-7 to Waynesville.
After college, Keeton was an assistant coach for two years at William Chrisman under then head coach Joe Keeton, his uncle. This will be his eighth year at Belton.
“I am extremely excited and humble,” Keeton said of his first head coaching assignment. “I knew there were a few heavy hitters, but I was the only one in house that applied. I am sure I will go through the entire spectrum of emotions.
“I have a good coaching staff, including 1989 Truman graduate Jimmy Beard, who will be the offensive coordinator.”
Belton faces its toughest schedule ever, including newcomers Oak Park, Platte County, North Kansas City, Blue Springs South and 2007 Class 4 state champion Lee’s Summit West, a new district and conference foe that is moving up from the Suburban Small Six to the Middle Six and from Class 4 to Class 5.
• In another head coaching change, former Oak Grove football, basketball, baseball and track standout Andy Hampton is the new girls basketball coach at Wellington-Napoleon.
He graduated from Oak Grove in 2000 and Northwest Missouri State University in 2004. He was an assistant in football, basketball and  track for three years at Oak Grove and then went to Wellington-Napoleon in 2007 as an assistant football coach. He also is the Tigers assistant softball coach.
• High school track and field athletes are getting better and better as evidenced by 14 changes on The Examiner’s all-time area honor roll.
Raytown South’s Maurice Mitchell, a Florida State University signee, led the way, moving into first place in the 100 and 200 meters with times of 9.96 and 20.46 seconds and into second in the 400 meters in 47.67. He set the all-time 400 time of 47.6 in 2007.
If not for the fact it was hand-held, the 9.96 would be a national best.
He also was a member of the 400-meter relay with Derek Blevins, Johmon Jones and Maurice Woodard, who set an all-time area-best time of 41.47.
Other boys changes and where they place on the all-time honor roll:
 Blue Springs South’s Keyen Porter took over third place all-time in the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 13.68. He also was a member of the 800-meter relay team with Matt Gross, Donte Strickland and Derrion Thomas that ran an all-time best of 1:26.97.
Blue Springs’ quartet of Evan McCray, Donnie Prater, Drew Matthews and Carlos Anderson ran 3:17.68 for an all-time best in the 1,600 relay.
Raytown South’s Blevins took over third in the triple jump with a leap of 48 feet, 10 1/2 inches.
Megan Collins of Lee’s Summit North tossed an all-time area-best 156 feet, 3 inches in the discus.
Lee’s Summit’s Abby Garlich set a new standard in the girls pole vault by clearing 12 feet.
Lee’s Summit North’s Simone McGautha, Veronica Rollins, Madison Smith and Sierra Hawkins moved into second place in the 1,600 relay by running 3:57.73. Raytown South’s Racquell Powell, Unique Hooks, Maisha Mitchell and Kelsey Harris moved into fifth at 3:59.06.
Powell’s winning time of 56.16 in the Class 4 state meet claimed second place in the 400. Aisha Mitchell is the school and area leader with 55.53 ran in 2003.
Lee’s Summit West’s Emily Argotsinger, Chelsea Phoebus, Brittany Tate and Liga Blyholder ran a third all-time best of 9:27.82 in the 3,200 relay this season.
• Finally, Class 4 state champion Ozark is ranked No. 9 in the Midwest in the USA Today national baseball poll.