这个, 我跑去查查网上字典, 看了 Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary :
runner-up noun (pl. runners-up) a person or team that finishes second in a race or competition; a person or team that has not finished first but that wins a prize: Winner: Kay Hall. Runner-up: Chris Platts. They finished runners-up behind Sweden. The runners-up will all receive a ?50 prize.
和 Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:
the competitor that does not win first place in a contest; especially : one that finishes in second place
它们的意思都是指拿了奖而非首名者, 特别是第二名, 换句话来说, runner-up 泛指非冠军的得奖者.
但是次比赛中, 第一名的头衔是冠军, 第二名的头衔是 "finalist" (决赛者?) , 接下来的得奖者, 便是第三、四名了. 这里用了 1st runner-up 和 2nd runner-up.