Athletics - World champion Kibet still traumatised by mob attack

Kenya's world marathon champion Luke Kibet said he was still "traumatised and horrifed" after completing his first race since he narrowly escaped death in a mob attack last month. "I still can't train with all my concentration, especially early morning or late evening," Kibet told Reuters after finishing sixth in the Kenya prisons cross country senior men's race.

"Besides forcing me to skip a road race in the Netherlands, the incident has left me traumatised and horrified."

More than 1,000 people, including 1988 Seoul Olympics 4x400 metres relay finalist Lucas Sang and marathon runner Wesley Ngetich, have been killed in ethnic and political violence since the disputed re-election of President Mwai Kibaki on December 27.

"One of the people we were with had been shot in the shoulder by police a few steps from me. As I went to offer a helping hand, a huge stone landed on my head," Kibet said. He said he was now focused on running in the London marathon on April 13 and then at the Beijing Olympics. "I will fight for a place in the world cross country championships team, but my concentration will be on the London marathon and the Olympics," he said.

Gideon Ngatunyi, who came fourth at last year's world cross country championships in Kenya's coastal resort of Mombasa, won today's race in 35 minutes 57.1 seconds.