try for, go for - make an attempt at achieving something; "She tried for the Olympics"

play - participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"

run off - decide (a contest or competition) by a runoff

race, run - compete in a race; "he is running the Marathon this year"; "let's race and see who gets there first"

rival - be the rival of, be in competition with; "we are rivaling for first place in the race"

emulate - compete with successfully; approach or reach equality with; "This artists's drawings cannot emulate his water colors"

rival, equal, match, touch - be equal to in quality or ability; "Nothing can rival cotton for durability"; "Your performance doesn't even touch that of your colleagues"; "Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents"