Elkhorn Mount Michael has seven state championships in boys cross country, but the Knights never have had an individual winner.

That could change at Friday's state meet at the Kearney Country Club.

Senior Thomas Feichtinger is one of the Class B favorites — and perhaps vying for the all-class gold — for two reasons. He was the Class B winner at last month's UNK Invitational, the unofficial state preview meet. And at last spring's state track meet, he was the gold medalist in the 3,200 meters.

"He has some God-given talent," Mount Michael coach John Gathje said, "and has taken his talent to another level. He has confidence without being cocky."

Feichtinger said his disappointment a year ago at the state cross country meet has spurred.

"We thought we had the potential to win. We were fifth, didn't come close," he said. "I had come down with mono, throwing up all night before the meet. I ran with crackers and Pepto-Bismol."

The 2010 meet had a carry-over effect on his offseason training.

"The past three years I went home for the summer and really didn't put in much work," Feichtinger said. "This summer, I said if we come up short, that won't be the reason."

Gathje said the 3,200 gold made his star runner realize that he was at a different level than he was before.

Feichtinger, whose family lives in northwest Omaha, said he believes that attending a boarding school is an asset for a strong cross country team.

"I've been living with these guys for four years," he said. "It's so much easier to become a team when you know each other so well."

Mount Michael is ranked second in the state coaches poll, behind Scottsbluff. The Knights won their district as Feichtinger came in first to stay undefeated this season. John Cronin was third, Lukas Buehler fourth and Thomas Kalil ninth. Trey Wiemer and Marcus Cronin also competed in districts.

"Our pack mentality, it's still there," Gathje said. "With our second and third runners, Cronin and Buehler, we hope they can pack up and Thomas Kalil can hang with those guys as long as he can.

"We hope we'll be right in it. Scottsbluff looks awfully good and I'm not counting out Seward or Plattsmouth although we've beaten both already. You know how a lot can change at the state meet."

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