Run first in The Listener (4)
I believe the answer is:
tear
'run' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'first in the listener' is the wordplay.
'first in the' becomes 't' (1st letter of 'the').
'listener' becomes 'ear' (body part which hears or listens).
't'+'ear'='TEAR'
(Other definitions for tear that I've seen before include "'A rip, binge or drop of saline solution (4)'" , "speed" , "A drop of optical moisture" , "A rip or cut" , "Split - career" .)