Possible Clues:

• This could disqualify athlete getting off faster -- last
• Not a true origin of race?
• Early misstep
• Fellow bitter about a university's illegal manoeuvre
• Not the true origin of race?
• Feigned response to a loud noise?
• Reason for a dash do-over
• As something before its proper time, it's not going off with a bang
• Sprint malfunction
• Sprinter's infraction, and a hint to the starred answers' first words