Using your knowledge of affixes and root words, what is the meaning of the bolded word in the following sentence?

The new technology was a forerunner in the industry and set the standard for years to come.

A person or thing that comes before or prepares the way for another
A person or thing that is good at analyzing the past
A person or thing that is unoriginal and copies existing patterns
A person who runs in front of a group during a physical race

The meaning of the bolded word "forerunner" in the sentence is: A person or thing that comes before or prepares the way for another.