team-mate Stephen Troake qualified for the Canadian National Championships later this month during the three-day Ontario University Swim Championships in Canada over the weekend.

Ferguson, 22, broke Mike Cash's seven-year-old record in the 1500 metres freestyle on Sunday when he swam a time of 16 minutes, 52.56 seconds on the final day of the three-day competition. That placed him 11th overall on time.

Cash's record set in 1992 was 16.53.46.

Troake, 19, qualified in both the 50 and 100 metres freestyle for the Canadian championships in two weeks' time in Guelph, Ontario. He was one of 11 McMaster University students to qualify for the Canadian championships.

Troake reached three consolation finals, finishing second and third in the two freestyle events which booked his ticket to the championships which will include every university team in Canada.

The performances of the two Bermudians, who represented the Island at last year's Commonwealth Games, enabled McMaster to win both the women's and the men's championships over 13 other universities in Ontario.

The Ontario University Championships represent the biggest meet in Canada outside the nationals.