PORTLAND – A 36-year-old Cape Elizabeth man outswam a younger three-time champion in Saturday’s 2.4-mile Peaks-to-Portland Swim.

Jim Harvey defeated 18-year-old Sean Flaherty of Scarborough, covering the distance in 46 minutes, 50 seconds.

“It’s about experience, not age,” said Harvey, who also won the grueling race in 1998 and 1999. He lost the title in 2000 to Flaherty, who beat him again in 2001.

Flaherty swam the distance in 47 minutes, 20 seconds. He credits Harvey for swimming a smart race, and was not impressed with his own performance in the 22nd annual event.

“I swam a horrible race,” said Flaherty, who will be a freshman swimmer this fall at George Washington University. Flaherty said he will be in next year’s Peaks-Portland race.

Page Beecher of Scarborough, who was a high school swimmer with Flaherty, placed third in 49:22. Emily Caras, 16, of Cape Elizabeth, was the first female to reach East End Beach and placed ninth overall. Her time was 52:49.

The field of swimmers ranged in age from 15 to 60.