Possible Clues:

• Roger Bannister, famously
• Athlete who looks happy, though not first
• Middle-distance runner, like Roger Bannister or Hicham El Guerrouj
• One may run four laps
• *Athlete running 5,280 feet (or the other way, second run of crew practice)
• Runner in early event not starting back
• Runner of four-minute races
• Sender of message dispatching a runner
• Distance runner who aptly crosses the last 4 letters of 64-Across
• Some spectator eliminates rising athlete