Sat Mar 1, 2008 10:59am EST

By Jack Oyoo

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Former champion Paul Tergat has urged Kenya's athletes to help with the aftermath of the political violence that rocked their country by retaining the team title at this month's world cross country championships.

"We can rise from the ashes like the proverbial phoenix and retain the world title. Three weeks are enough to make a winning team, but training must be intensive," Tergat told Reuters on Saturday.

"As part of national healing, we can use the world championships to unite the nation by retaining the overall team title," said the former five-time world champion.