Ben True of Greely High School in Cumberland Center wasn’t even going for the “W” in Saturday’s Footlocker Cross Country East Regional at Van Cortlandt Park in New York.

He got it anyway.

True, a senior, took the overall title in 15 minutes, 22.8 seconds, 2.3 seconds ahead of Victor Gras of Belmont, Mass., over a 5K course. Ahmed Haji of West Hartford, Conn., one of True’s rivals, finished eighth, taking the final Nationals spot.

The top eight finishers in the field of 241 advanced to the national championships Dec. 13 at Balboa Park in San Diego.

It was one of the fastest regional meets as Haji’s time was only eight seconds slower than True’s and beat last year’s winning time.

Eric Giddings of South Portland finished 20th (16:05.6), Levi Miller of Belfast 42nd (16:29.8), Falmouth’s Brandon Bonsey 62nd (16:44.5), Greely’s Casey Diehl in 82nd (16:56.3) and Mt. Blue of Farmington’s Matt Dunlap was 116th (17:11.8) to round out the Maine finishers.

True, who finished fifth in last year’s regional (15:37), ran close to a perfect race Saturday, going with the pack early, then making the move atop a tough hill just past the two-mile mark.

“I made my move at the top of the hill,” said True. “The pack started to spread out coming down the hill.”

After the pack spread out, True surged ahead and was never challenged again.

True finished ninth in the nationals last year but would certainly like to better that.

“I’m pretty much looking for top 10, but would like to better my place,” he said.

Hampden Academy’s Molly Balentine was the lone Mainer on the girls side. She finished 96th in 20:28. Nicole Blood of Gansevoort, N.Y., was the winner in 17:44.

True will join 31 other runners at the 25th national meet.