a lot of editors have two ways to change the sample rate. one way is for producing effects and it changes the pitch and duration as well like if you slowed down some vinyl. thats the method you seem to have found. this trips up a lot of ppl. including me when i first started using audio editors
the other method is for doing what you want to do, changing the sample rate without changing pitch & duration. i use audition which is the descendant of cool edit so maybe its still the same... under edit is there "convert sample type" ?