Put third at worst (6)
I believe the answer is:
placed
I believe this is a double definition.
'put' is the first definition.
(I've seen this before)
'third at worst' is the second definition.
(to place is to finish in the top three)
(Other definitions for placed that I've seen before include "Put in position" , "Put, situated" , "Set" , "Positioned" , "In the first three" .)