Kenyan Runners Flee

Ricky Simms, a British agent who represents nearly 50 leading Kenyan runners, has revealed that he has told them to flee their training bases in Eldoret to try to ensure their safety amid the mounting violence in the country. Eldoret is home to more world and Olympic champions than any other place in the world and is the cradle of Kenyan distance running. 'We have told all our athletes to go home and stay indoors,' said Simms.

More than 300 people have been reported killed in the violence following last month's disputed Kenyan presidential elections. Eldoret, in the Rift Valley, has been the center of much of the civil unrest, including last Wednesday's burning of a church in Kiambaa, outside the town, where about 30 people who had gathered there for shelter were killed. Also murdered that night was Lucas Sang, a former Olympic athlete, who it is alleged was stoned to death. Other reports claim that Luke Kibet, the world champion in the marathon, needed treatment after being hit on the head by a stone during a riot. Sang, 45, ran for Kenya in the 4x400 meters relay at the 1988 Olympics. His body had to be identified by Noah Ngeny, the 1500m gold medalist from the 2000 Sydney Games, Simms said.

Spokesperson Anna Legnani said the IAAF had heard nothing from its staff in Eldoret for three days. 'Half the people we have tried to call, we've been unable to reach,' Legnani said. 'Eldoret sounds like the ugliest of places to be.'

'First the roads out of Eldoret were all closed,' said Simms. 'Now they are blocked with people trying to get to Nairobi and the Red Cross and politicians trying to get into the town. Because much of the violence has been tribal, we have advised all our athletes to go up country to their own homes, where they should be safer with their own families'.