get a huge lead over an opponent in a competition, leave someone in the dust, get the jump on

to construct, to build up

(sports) match, game

for the first time, typically in the current year

commence with, including

at the beginning of ~

leading / lede / leash (e.g. on a dog) / the lead (dance partner) / reed (in a musical instrument)

Read / Reed / Reade / Reid

(sports) to lead (have the highest score, be in first place) / to take the lead

he / distal demonstrative, something far off removed from both speaker and listener: that / boyfriend