Mom always said exercise was healthy. Something with which the more than 550 runners who lined up at various stages of the annual Mothers Day Mile would agree.

The fifth annual event, which begins and ends at the Glenwood Medical Associates building and snakes around the surrounding streets in Glenwood Springs, continues to grow in participation and in status for local runners.

Bernie Boettcher recorded the best time of the race. The Silt resident clocked in at 5 minutes, 14.35 seconds.

But on Mom’s Day, Boettcher had to take a back seat to Jenny Barsness.

Barsness took home top honors in two categories. Her finishing time of 5:45.87 was the fastest among all women competitors and the best among all participating mothers.

Jennifer Schaiberger earned Fastest Grandmother honors with a mile mark of 7:27.43. Phyllis Viehe, 81, finished ahead of Mother’s Day Mile queen Jeannie Driskill in a tight one-two showdown in the Fastest Great Grandmother race. Viehe completed her run in 17:23.31, compared to Driskill’s 17:24.43.

Other women’s division-winners included Heidi Small (girls, 8 and-under), Allison Brown (9-10), Melissa Buchanan (11-14), Amanda Alberico (15-19), Lacey Darien (20-29), Kim Worline (30-39), Heidi Vosbeck (40-49), Joyce Rankin (50-59), Jean Leedy (60-69) and Catherine Evans (70 and-above).

Further results from Sunday’s race will appear in Tuesday’s edition of the Post Independent.