Managed to participate in athletics? (3)
I believe the answer is:
ran
'managed' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ran that I've seen before include "Entered (a race)" , "Organised" , "Hastened" , "Moved fast or managed" , "Administered" .)