Lifting in the German National Championships this weekend, Oliver Caruso and Ronny Weller served notice that they will be coming to the World Weightlifting Championships in top form. Caruso, who has had to fight his way back from injuries, snatched 180 kg, and cleaned and jerked 212.5 kg while competing as a very light 105-kg category lifter. Weller, one of the world's leading superheavyweights, tipped the scales at 144 kg, and snatched 205 kg, and cleaned and jerked 250 kg. The 2003 World Weightlifting Championships are next month, in Vancouver, British Columbia, and especially because the event is an Olympic qualifier, huge lifts are expected.

"We've still got room for anyone who wants to volunteer," said Lis Petersen, Events Services Manager for the World Weightlifting Championships, which are scheduled for November 14-22 at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. The 2003 World Weightlifting Championships is an Olympic Qualifier and the organizers are expecting over 600 competitors, including world champions, world record holders and defending Olympic champions. Besides being part of this event, Lis Petersen said, "This is a great way to begin gaining experience if you're interested in volunteering for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games." Email info@2003wwc.com if you would like more information.

Jim Davis, president of IFSA USA, just announced the Fox Sports Network TV schedule, which includes airing the Miami qualifier at 3:00 today! On October 8th at 11:00 a.m., watch for a rerun of this program, so if you can't catch it today, be sure to watch it next week. Missed the St. Louis finals in person? Catch the excitement on Fox Sports Network on October 10th at 3:00 p.m., and you'll get a second crack at it when it airs again on October 15th at 11:00 a.m. Be sure to check the official IFSA USA web site for further details: http://x-tremestrongman.com/mainPage.html .

If you'll be in New York November 7, 8 or 9 and can close a No. 3 or No. 4 Captains of Crush gripper, here's your chance to win a world-famous Emerson tactical knife. The Emerson Knife Challenge began a few years ago with a straightforward challenge: Close a really tough gripper and win a really tough knife. Emerson Knife sales manager Derek Russell said that thousands of people have tried since the challenge began, but so far, only one man, John Hicks, has succeeded, although Richard Sorin came close but couldn't quite put it away a couple of years ago. So if you will be in the Big Apple and can mash a No. 3 or No. 4 Captains of Crush gripper, swing by New York's Hotel Pennsylvania (401 - 7th Avenue, at 33rd Street) November 7-9 and bring home "the number one hard use knife in the world."