READFIELD — As a junior, Maranacook’s Ethan Harriman had a very good Nordic season. He had a pair of fourth-place finishes in the classical and freestyle competitions, respectively, at the Class B championships as the Black Bears’ finished second behind Yarmouth.

In the months that followed though, Harriman decided very good just was not good enough and dedicated himself to improving for his senior season.

“He has what all good endurance athletes have, which is two things: One is a recognition that if you’re going to get good at it, you’re going to have to work hard, and the other is he’s got a great ability to handle pain,” Maranacook Nordic coach Steve DeAngelis said. “Those are two key ingredients. He’s a good athlete to start with but he has to work at it and he’s worked at it hard.”

That hard work clearly paid off for Harriman this winter. He won the Class B classical race with a time of 15 minutes, 29.30 seconds — 38 seconds ahead of teammate Luca DeAngelis — and placed second in the freestyle race in 14:29.50. His performance was a big part in why Maranacook won the Class B Nordic title, and ultimately went on to take the overall state title as well.

For his performance this winter, Harriman has been named the 2014-15 Kennebec Journal Boys Nordic Skiing Athlete of the Year.

“I put a lot of summer training in. I do cross country, but I upped the mileage and did some roller skiing as well,” Harriman said. “It’s all about keeping a positive mindset that you’re going to do well and you’re going to train well. That helps you went it comes time to race.

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“…I’m very excited, very pleased. I came into it with high expectations of myself, which just made me motivate myself and push myself and I was able to succeed.”

Harriman said he ran about 40 miles per week in addition to some roller skiing sessions, but also credited his parents, coaches and teammates for his success this winter.

“(My parents have) always come to all the races, my dad is the assistant coach, one of them, and they’ve always been into what I do and happy to spectate and cheer and give advice,” Harriman said. “If it wasn’t for the team competing and racing, it wouldn’t be as fun or exciting as it is.”

Harriman said skiing is still a part of his future, just not in the same sense that it was this past season. He plans to attend Thomas College — which does not have a ski team — where he will run cross country and study accounting.

“Closeness was one of the factors,” Harriman said. “I like that I’ll be able to come home and be able to ski and snowmobile in the winter time.”

Harriman said he plans on skiing recreationally in the future, but for now is focused on getting ready for his final sports season at Maranacook, outdoor track.

Evan Crawley — 621-5640

ecrawley@mainetoday.com

Twitter: @Evan_Crawley


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