Way athlete identifies crested bird (10)
I believe the answer is:
roadrunner
'crested bird' is the definition.
(roadrunners have crests)
'way athlete' is the wordplay.
'way' becomes 'road' (road is a kind of way).
'athlete' becomes 'runner' (type of athlete).
'road'+'runner'='ROADRUNNER'
'identifies' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for roadrunner that I've seen before include "Chaparral cock" , "Bird" .)