In 2003, Pima freshman runner Cherise Price underwent a five-hour surgery to place a titanium rod in her back.

JILL TORRANCE / arizona daily star

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Teammates have nicknamed Cherise Price "The Bionic Woman," "Robot" and "The Machine" because a titanium rod in her back keeps her spine straight. She has laughed at the teasing — and endured back pain to become one of the nation's fastest junior college runners this spring.

Diagnosed five years ago with scoliosis, a condition when the spine curves, Price will run in three events for Pima College at this week's junior college national championships at South Plains College, near Lubbock, Texas.

After races, she uses ice or heating pads to treat tightness or soreness in her lower back, but otherwise, she said the back no longer bothers her.

"Other people are more scared for me than I am for myself when it comes to running," she laughed.

As an eighth-grader, Price's shoulders hunched and she felt pain in her ribs and back. Her spine became shaped like an "S" — she said the top of her spine was curved 58 degrees on top and 43 degrees on the bottom. Price is unsure why she developed the condition; her twin brother, Douglas, has not had back problems.

"My body was tilting. You could see my left side protrude out more," said Price, 19.

Price's mother, Ellan, realized the severity of the condition when she saw Cherise try on clothes one day.

"She was literally twisted," Ellan said. "There was no cure for her besides cutting her open."

Price underwent five hours of surgery in May 2003 to insert the rod into her back. Brackets on the rod fit into her vertebrae, straightening the spine. Doctors told her she would have to refrain from running for a year. After three months of physical therapy, she begged her mom to let her run.

"I feel good. Can't I do it?" Price asked.

Ellan allowed her to resume the activity — and accompanied her to meets or the park to watch her. But she has discouraged Price from running the hurdles and steeplechase.

"I wanted her to get into some activity, so she'd get back into life," Ellan said. "I still worry about her falling."

Price ran three months after surgery and joined Catalina High School's cross country team as a freshman. She endured occasional bursts of pain that felt like someone was punching her in the back.

"In the beginning, my form was off and I had a lot of pain, but I've learned to deal with it," said Price, who has encountered no major issues since the surgery. "The only difference is I might not be as flexible as other people. I can almost touch my toes."

Pima coach Greg Wenneborg said Price never sits out workouts; she sometimes asks for extra time between intervals.

Price could finish her first track season at Pima as an All-American. Her top time of 4 minutes 54.19 seconds in the 1,500 meters is tied for 14th fastest in the nation. Her best time of 2:22.41 in the 800 ranks 20th. Pima's 4 x 800-meter relay team of Price, Denise Barajas, Rachel Eid and Brittany Delker ranks fifth with a time of 9:42.51. The top eight finishers in each event earn All-America honors.

"She has scored a lot of points for us," Wenneborg said. "At times, I was worried and she would always tell me exactly what's going on. But it never seemed to affect her performance. She listens to her body. She knows when to ease up and when to go really hard, and she's sharp right now."