Drew Magill and Stacia McInnes are once again Whidbey Island Triathlon champions.

Magill, 45, won his third consecutive Whidbey Island Triathlon on Saturday. He finished the 23.8-mile race in 1 hour, 27 minutes, 56.8 seconds and missed the course record he set last year by 76 seconds.

“I always expect some younger guys to come along,” Magill said. “It’s great to be able to win the race at 45. I don’t know about 46 though.”

Stacia McInnes crossed the line in 1 hour, 37 minutes, 53.1 seconds, her best time. The win was her third Whidbey Island Triathlon title in four years — she also won in 2007 and 2008. McInnes finished almost 11 minutes before the next woman crossed the finish.

“It was not a very competitive field,” she said. “Which is OK.”

McInnes claimed if last year’s winner, Rhea Shaw, returned, she would not have won.

“If she would have come back, she would have killed me,” McInnes said.

Both Magill and McInnes are veteran triathletes.

Magill began triathlons 10 years ago and McInnes started 20 years ago. They also competed in their sixth triathlon of the year at the Whidbey Island Triathlon. McInnes qualified for the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Magill is taking time off from triathlons the rest of the year to spend more time with family.

Also, both said they enjoyed the bike route because it was hilly and difficult.

“This is one of my favorite events,” Magill said. “First of all because it’s well organized. Secondly, the bike course is awesome.”

“Plus it’s a good excuse to come out to Whidbey Island,” Magill added.

This year’s race was McInnes’ 12th time competing in the 14th Whidbey Island Triathlon. She missed the 1999 and 2001 triathlons because she was pregnant.

“The only race I do every year is Whidbey,” McInnes said. “I consider Whidbey [Island Triathlon] my home race.”

It was Magill’s fourth year in the Whidbey Island Triathlon — he missed the 2007 race because it filled up before he registered. Magill praised the organizers and his fellow triathletes.

“It’s a good group of people,” Magill said. “It’s positive, they’re supportive, they live very healthy lifestyles, and I think it’s just good for you.”

Pregnancy, injury or a national competition are the only reasons McInnes would not compete in the Whidbey Island Triathlon.

“It’s a really well-put-on race,” she said. “They do a good job putting on the race, or I wouldn’t come back.”