From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
pull ahead
v 1: obtain advantages, such as points, etc.; "The home team was
gaining ground"; "After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers
pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one
playoff berth in the Western Conference" [syn: gain,
advance, win, pull ahead, make headway, get
ahead, gain ground] [ant: drop off, fall back, fall
behind, lose, recede]