OLYMPIC SPEED SKATER SMASHES RECORD TO HELP FRIEND

CALGARY - Olympic speed skater Steven Elm set the stage Wednesday to break the world record in the 3000 metre distance. On Sunday, with the help of five friends, Elm made good on that promise, beating the old record by a full second.

Steven Elm (with poster) sourrounded by record-breaking friends Kevin Marshall, Jamie Ivey, Peter Volcic, Mark Jesney and Tyler Johnston.

More importantly, raised over $1,800 for the Nicole Hoar trust fund. Hoar, a long-time friend of Elm, disappeared while hitchhiking in B.C. earlier this month. Elm wants the trust fund to help find his friend. "She's my personal friend, and I want her found. I want to see her again," said Elm.

The time of 3:41.87 for the 3000 metre beat the old mark of 3:42.87 by a full second, but won't be entered in any official record books because it was not a sanctioned event. Still, it is an outstanding achievement for Elm and those who assisted him with pacing - Kevin Marshall, Jamie Ivey, Peter Volcic, Mark Jesney and Tyler Johnston. Donations to the trust fund can be made in person to: Nicole Hoar in Trust Community Savings & Credit Union Deposit at any branch or at any Credit Union in Canada. Or donations can be mailed to: Nicole Hoar in Trust Community Savings & Credit Union 4901 48th Street Red Deer, AB T4N 6M4 No cash please. Anyone with any information about the whereabouts of Nicole is asked to call their nearest RCMP detachment or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

CHILD AND HESSE TAKE SILVER AT MONTREAL

Montreal, Canada, 14 July - Canadian Beach Volleyball fans were treated to an exceptional final between local heroes John Child and Mark Heese and Brazilians Ricardo-Loiola on Sunday here at the Stade du Maurier in Montreal, the one North American stop on the 2002 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour. Ricardo-Loiola defeated Child-Heese 2-0 (21-18, 24-22) to take the men's title in Canada and their first gold medal this season.

Mark Hesse

After an easy first set for the Brazilians, Child and Heese battled all the way to two set balls, before the Ricardo-Loiola used their first match ball to finish it off. "We played a very good match today. Now we feel that our play is improving and I really hope that we keep that shape for the next tournament," said Loiola after the match.

Child-Heese played their 92nd tournament together and captured their fifth silver medal, for Ricardo-Loiola it was their third Gold Medal as a team. Ricardo was voted Speedo player of the tournament. The Bronze Medal went to US-boys Kevin Wong-Stein Metzger, when they defeated Argentinean World Champions Mariano Baracetti and Martin Conde 2-1 (21-15, 18-21,15-13).

John Child

The Americans had another third place earlier on in Gstaad, Switzerland.

MUENZER WINS 500-METRE TIME TRIAL

BROMONT, Que. (CP) -- Edmonton's Lori-Ann Muenzer won the women's 500-metre time trial title Saturday at the Canadian track cycling championships.

Edmonton's Lori-Ann Muenzer

Muenzer, who will be heading to Manchester, England to represent Canada at the Commonwealth Games, also won the sprint title Friday. Erin Carter of Winnipeg defeated her idol Clara Hughes, also of Winnipeg, in the women's points race. Both riders will also represent Canada at the Games. Muenzer started last in the 500 metres against the clock as the favourite, and did not disappoint, beating Mandy Poitras of Langley, B.C., by 2.734 seconds. Her speed was 50.72 kilometres per hour.

"The track is faster then yesterday, and my time was actually a little more then I was looking for," she said. "...This is my fastest time of the year and I am right on track for Manchester."

Carter and Hughes were the two favourites for the points race, a 100-lap event where riders collect points for lapping the field or winning intermediate sprints on predetermined laps.

Carter and Hughes lapped the field three times.

"I knew that for me the best way to win was by endurance," Carter said. "I would get a gap and then Clara would come up and together we could lap the field."

Also Saturday, Edmonton natives Steen Madsen, Lars Madsen and Tyler Hansen won the three-rider, one kilometre Olympic sprint in 47.788 seconds. The trio is also headed for the Commonwealth Games.

A GOLDEN DAY AT THE WORLD CUP FOR CANADA

LUCERNE - The Canadian lightweight men's four struck gold and the men's eight raced hard to win bronze on the final day of the rowing World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland.

"There has been a lot of work done in the past year," said Canadian head coach Brian Richardson after today's racing, "and it's now starting to pay off with results. It's very encouraging for Canadian rowing."

In the lightweight men's four - a very competitive Olympic-class event - only a couple of seconds came between the first to fourth places, with the Canadian boat separating itself from the powerful European crews to win the gold. Canada's time was 5:55.51, followed by Italy in 5:57.42, and Austria in 5:57.48. France, winners of this event at the 2000 Olympics, finished in fourth in 5:57.57.

Members of the four are Doug Vandor (Dewittville, Que.), Jon Mandick (Edmonton, Alta.), Iain Brambell (Brentwood Bay, B.C.) and Gavin Hassett (Victoria B.C.). They are coached by Terry Paul, who is based in Victoria, B.C.

The Canadian men's eight battled strong crews from Germany, the U.S. and Romania in their final ­ the last race of the day. The Canadians led at the 1500-metre mark, but finished the 2000-metre course only two seconds off the winners from the U.S. (5:28.68) and second-place Germany (5:29.80). Canada's bronze-medal time was 5:30.61.

The World Cup bronze medallists are Andrew Hoskins (Edmonton, Alta.), Kyle Hamilton (Richmond, B.C.), Adam Kreek (London, Ont.), Kevin Light (Sidney, B.C.), Jeff Powell (Winnipeg, Man.), Ben Rutledge (Cranbrook, B.C.), Joe Stankevicius (Dundas, Ont.), Matt Swick (St. Catharines, Ont.) and Brian Price (coxswain, Belleville, Ont.). The men's coach is Mike Spracklen.