Alex Kostich doesn't like to swim near his hometown of Los Angeles because "the water is dirty and there are sharks."

He finds the shores of Waikiki much more to his liking.

Kostich, 36, won his third Waikiki Roughwater Swim yesterday, completing the 2.348-mile course from San Souci Beach to Duke Kahanamoku Beach in 45 minutes, 25 seconds.

"This was a good way to kick off my vacation. I think I'll have a mai tai tonight," said Kostich, who also won in 1994 and 2002.

John Flanagan, 31, of Hawai'i Kai finished second in 46:25, and Noa Sakamoto, 20, of Honolulu was third in 48:38.

"I had a good swim for myself," said Flanagan, a two-time winner. "What Alex did was incredible. I did everything I could to keep him in sight, but couldn't do it. After halfway he disappeared."

Claudia Barsi of Budapest, Hungary won the women's race in 52:40. Shanelle Choi of Waipi'o Gentry was second in 53:10, and Eney Jones of Crested Butte, Calif., was third in 53:30.

Kostich has competed in 14 Waikiki Roughwater Swims.

"I didn't think I'd win after 30. To win at 36 makes me feel good," said Kostich, who added he felt his 2002 victory was a "fluke."

Kostich finished second to Sakamoto in 2004, the last time the event was held. Last year's swim was canceled because of rough ocean conditions. This year, 666 swimmers entered the event.

Flanagan, who won in 2000 and 2001, said conditions yesterday were "perfect." He added: "I'm not in shape like I was back in the day."

Barsi, 21, took a longer route to complete the course.

"It was kind of wavey," said Barsi, a senior distance swimmer for the University of Hawai'i. "At about 1.5 miles a group of 15 or 16 pulled away."

Barsi, who competed in the 2004 Hungarian Olympic Trials, added most in the pack stayed close to the race buoys, while she and the others swam out toward open ocean.

Barsi and those with her, with the current at their back, then swam straight in.

She said the UH distance swimmers competed in the event. Barsi, who competes in the 500 freestyle, 1,000 freestyle, mile and 200 butterfly, said other teammates cheered her on as she ran up the beach and toward the finish line.

Choi, a 14-year-old sophomore at Pearl City High School, surprised herself with her runner-up finish.

She said she's been competing in the event since she was 8, and her highest finish was third in the 11-12 age division.

"I really didn't think I was going to come in second overall," Choi said. "The training has been harder. I try to challenge myself."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.