Allan crossed the finish line in a time of 8hr 26min 38sec, smashing the previous record of 8hr 34min 41sec set by Richard Usher in 2010. His time of 4hr 27min 37sec in the 180km bike also beat the record he set in last year’s race.
With temperatures reaching the mid to high 20s and very little wind, Allan he had to "go through some suffering" to make it to the finish line.
"It was really really tough out there and I’m just really pleased to win the race.
"Everyone has to put up with some very uncomfortable things out there and winning it makes it all the more bearable."
Eighth out of the water, Allan had to overcome strong starts from New Zealander Mike Phillips and Australians Luke Bell and Luke McKenzie. After making his way though the pack during the bike ride, his strongest discipline, Allan took the lead off Phillips at the 160km mark and from there never relinquished it.
Allan said a good swim allowed him to take his time on the bike ride, which left him with enough energy for the run to protect his lead.
Making the event his main sporting focus paid off, he said.
"[Wanaka] Challenge is my main focus and I throw a lot at it. It’s a gamble because a win is never a guarantee and especially in a strong field like today, so if anything, it’s relief."
"But it’s just so satisfying to win."
Phillips finished in 8hr 30min to take second place ahead of Bell, who finished in 8hr 42min 50sec.
It was a much tighter finish in the women’s race, with only 27sec separating first and second place. Defending champion Yvonne van Vlerken, of the Netherlands, was able to stave of a late surge from Laura Siddall (Britain), who was runner-up for the second year in a row. It was close for most of the race, as both athletes led at different times until van Vlerken overtook Siddall for the final time about the halfway point in the 42.2km run.
Van Vlerken had looked like winning comfortably, as almost 60sec separated her and Siddall at the 38km mark but with 4km to go, Siddall started to claw back some of the distance. However, in the end, van Vlerken held on to win in a time of 9hr 15min 44sec. Siddall crossed the finish line in 9hr 16min 11sec.
Third place went to Swiss athlete Emma Bilham in 9hr 30min 39sec. Simone Maier (Wanaka) finished fifth with a time of 10hr 03min 6sec.
