The race encompasses Flagstaff and Swampy summits with a run over to Pulpit Rock and back over Mt Cargill.
Hill joined forces up front with race favourite Daniel Jones to set a solid pace but, with recent rain making for softer footing, it was Hill who handled it best to break away from Jones and open up a sizeable lead.
He crossed the finish line at Chingford Park 55km later in a blistering time of 4hr 54min 58se, smashing the previous record by an incredible 27min 4sec
"The mud was to my liking and the bit of rain last week was good," he said.
Despite being able to stretch his lead on Jones, Hill admitted feeling nervous in the knowledge that the five-time Kepler Challenge champion would be hunting him down.
"It's good to be here and be able to race some pretty stiff competition," Hill, who competed for New Zealand at the World Trail Running Championships last year, said.
With the event doubling as the New Zealand 55km Ultra Trail Running Championship, yesterday's victory handed Hill the national trail running championship double, after he won the long trail title on the Crater Rim course in Christchurch in 2020.
Hill (31) a sheep and beef farmer from Upper Hutt, said he had been feeling pretty flat and low on energy in the week leading up to yesterday’s race, but things just clicked into place when the race got under way.
"I didn't really have a good build-up but I'm happy it all came out all right in the end,’’ he said.
"I was pretty pessimistic coming in but knew I had to give it a shot."
Knowing Jones was just behind him, Hill said, holding him out was his main priority throughout the journey.
"I'm always pretty scared when he’s running. It's good competition. He's pretty formidable."
It became a battle of the Jones boys in the race for second and third.
Pre-race favourite Daniel Jones crossed in 5hr 15min 42sec for second and Oak Jones (not related) was third in 5hr 19min 40sec.
Waking fresh and feeling strong set Harry Wager (26), an apparel designer from Christchurch, on course for victory in the open men's Three Peaks 26km category, incorporating Dunedin's three peaks of Swampy, Flagstaff and Cargill.
Wager said he made the most of waking feeling well rested and primed to run, with plenty of running in his legs.
"It was a good day out," Wager said of finishing in 2hr 8min 46sec, adding that he was on the course for a good time, not a long time.
Having raced the event the past two years, finishing with a third and a second, this time round he completed the podium set, claiming the top step.
"Swampy Summit, as usual was pretty muddy. But it just added to the fun," he said.
A stunning run from Dunedin teenager Leon Miyahara brought him home in second place in 2hr 22min 19sec, with Lars Winther Christensen third in 2hr 24min 40sec
Despite a run-in with a few loose dogs on the descent from Mt Cargill, Danny Baillie finished in one piece to win the 11km Smash the Summit race in 54min 40sec.
Second was Shannon Rhodes in 56min 7sec and Neale McLanachan was third in 56min 49sec.
