PORTLAND (AP) – One of Maine’s top high school cross country runners finished in fifth place in Saturday’s Foot Locker cross country national championships in San Diego.

Ben True of North Yarmouth was among 32 boys and 32 girls from around the country invited to take part in the competition, now in its 25th year. Some of the racers of past years have gone on to become Olympians and NCAA champions.

True, a senior at Greely High School, completed the course in 15 minutes, 2 seconds. The winner, Matthew Withrow of Tinley, Park, Ill., finished in 14 minutes, 55 seconds.

True finished ninth last year.

True is the second runner from Maine to reach the nationals twice. Louie Luchini of Ellsworth finished 11th.

in 1997 and second a year later. He now runs for Stanford and is hoping to compete in the Athens Olympics.