Sign of distress as fall follows sprint (8)
I believe the answer is:
teardrop
'sign of distress' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'fall follows sprint' is the wordplay.
'fall' becomes 'drop' (dropping is a kind of falling).
'follows' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'sprint' becomes 'tear' (I've seen this in another clue).
'drop' after 'tear' is 'TEARDROP'.
'as' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for teardrop that I've seen before include "It comes from the lachrymal gland" , "Mournful globule from predator" , "It falls from the eye" , "One shed from eye" , "Predator (anag.)" .)