Unfortunately the late runner? (7)
I believe the answer is:
athlete
'runner?' is the definition.
(runner is a kind of athlete)
'unfortunately the late' is the wordplay.
'unfortunately' indicates an anagram (a bad or unfortunate spelling).
'the'+'late'='thelate'
'thelate' is an anagram of 'ATHLETE'.
(Other definitions for athlete that I've seen before include "fine physical specimen" , "Sprinter, say" , "Track/field sportsman" , "Track performer" , "Runner, jumper, thrower" .)