True, it was just the Tri-Nine Conference's junior varsity cross country meet. And his time of 24:49 as a senior won't turn the heads of college coaches looking for local talent.

But so long as we're being honest: Nathan Baker was the most impressive runner at the Tri-Nine cross country championships on Wednesday.

Baker, born mostly deaf and diagnosed with cerebral palsy at nine months, completed his final 5K race as a member of the Green Hope cross country team.

For some, running is a temporary escape from life's problems. For Baker, it's meant going head-on into his.

Cerebral palsy can adversely affect motor development and coordination.

After performing surgery on Baker's heels in 2001, doctors asked his parents if he could be a part of a new study. They wanted to see if more physical activity could improve these hindrances. It was previously thought to worsen them.

So after some impressive early trials on a treadmill, they recommended Baker practice with his cross country team as he entered high school. He was welcomed by coach Mike Miragliuolo, and eventually his teammates as well.

“He was really excited to be able to practice, but his first few weeks we weren't even sure he was going to be able to run a 5K,” said Tracy Baker, Nathan Baker's father. “Up to now, it's really been inspiring to see the support he's gotten.”

His parents, often by his side or keeping a watchful eye, said Baker was prone to fall during his freshman year, but fought back the scrapes and bruises to run another day.

“It was hard to let go, but once I saw his teammates adopt him and watch out for him, and I saw him take on that independence, it became easier to let go,” said Lil Baker, Nathan Baker's mother. “One of his first meets at Bond Park, he did fall in the woods. One of the other runners that came up behind picked him up. Someone who became one of his best friends who he still keeps in contact today.”

As time moved along, Baker's coordination, muscle mass and stamina improved. So did his times — he ran under 24:00 in the Great AmericanRace earlier this year — and his social standing amongst his peers.

With shouts of “Go Nathan!” surrounding them, his parents stood near the finish line. His sister Cassie filmed him coming down the stretch just as the family had done in all of his races.

“This team's become our family,” Lil Baker said. “It's given him a place to belong and something to be a part of.”

After completing the race, Nathan Baker said he was nervous, excited and sad all at the same time. He reflected on his time spent with nothing but happiness, however. “It's been very excellent,” he said. “I'm very thankful to have been on the team with coach [Miragliuolo].”

Lost in all of what cross country has meant to him is what Baker meant to them — inspiration.

In his final race, he finished what he set out to do four years ago — prove others wrong. And in doing so, he made a better life for himself. That alone, puts him alone in first place in eyes of those around him.

“Now it doesn't shock everybody,” Miragliuolo said. “There used to be a huge standing ovation when he finished but now everyone knows he's just another runner and he beats a whole lot of people now.

“They cheer for him like anyone else and not like he has any kind of limitations,” he continued. “He even tells other people, ‘If I can do it, you can do it.' ”