Make an excellent start and do even better (5)

I believe the answer is:

excel

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'better' is the definition.
(excel can mean to better or beat)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for excel that I've seen before include "Be very good at, better than others" , "Be the best" , "Every one" , "Do particularly well" , "Do superbly well" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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