Better to help than be in this athletic event! (10)

I believe the answer is:

heptathlon

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'be in this athletic event' is the definition.
'heptathlon' can be an answer for 'event' (I've seen this before). I am not sure about the 'be in this athletic' bit.

'better to help than' is the wordplay.
'better' indicates anagramming the letters (with an improved letter-order).
'to'+'help'+'than'='tohelpthan'
'tohelpthan' with letters rearranged gives 'HEPTATHLON'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for heptathlon that I've seen is " event".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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