Les Steers

Lester Steers (June 16, 1917 – January 23, 2003) was an American track and field high jumper. In 1941 he broke the world record for the high-jump three times. His last record stood for 12 years.[1]

Lester 'Les' Steers
Personal details
Born	June 16, 1917 Rhonerville, Eureka, California
Died	January 23, 2003 (aged 85)

Track career

Steers attended Palo Alto High School, winning the CIF California State Meet three years in a row from 1935-7[2] and San Mateo Junior College before attending the University of Oregon in 1941, competing for the 'Ducks' in the year of his greatest triumphs.[3]

Steers was a great all-round athlete who competed at the javelin, shot put and high-hurdles for his college athletics team as well as the high jump giving him the aspiration of competing as a decathlete.[4]

It was, however, as a high-jumper that he achieved his greatest success. He was NCAA (United States collegiate) champion (1941))[5] , 3 times AAU (United States national) champion (1939–41)[6] , and a gold medalist at the World University Games in 1939 (where he also won silver in the javelin and bronze in the pentathlon).[4]

As a jumper, Steers used the 'Belly Roll', a variation of the 'Western Roll'.[4]

Later life

Steers remained in Oregon reportedly working as a salesman.[7]

He died in 2003, a resident of Richland Washington.[8]

World records

Steers achieved the following world records during his athletics career:[9]

• 2.10 m (6' 10 3/4") in Seattle on 26 April 1941;[10]
• 2.105 m (6' 10 7/8") in Los Angeles on 24 May 1941;
• 2.11 m (6' 11") in Los Angeles on 17 June 1941.

Note: only the third was ratified by the sports' governing body, the IAAF.

Steers is also reported to have cleared 7 feet 1/2 inch in an exhibition jump in Eugene on 27 February 1941.[11] The first official clearance of 7 feet was 15 years later by Charles Dumas.

Accolades and awards

In 1974, Steers was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame.[1]

In 1992, Steers was inducted into the University of Oregon Hall of Fame.[12]

References

1. "Les Steers". USA Track and Field. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
2. http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/stateres.htm
3. "Les Steers, World Champion High-Jumper, to Attend Oregon". Eugene Register-Guard. September 23, 1940. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
4. "Steers, Les". Oregon Stars. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
5. "All-time NCAA Men's Results" (PDF). Track and Field News.
6. "A History Of The Results Of The National Track & Field Championships Of The USA From 1876 Through 2014". Track and Field News. Archived from the original on 2015-03-16. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
7. "Former World Record High Jumper Les Steers Passes Away". PAC-12 School Sites. January 30, 2003. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
8. "Lester Leroy Steers". www.memorialobituaries.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
9. Progression of IAAF World Records 2011 Edition, Editor Imre Matrahazi, IAAF Athletics, p 523.
10. "Oregon Track Star Sets High-Jump World Record at 6 Ft. 10 25/32 In". Life Magazine. May 26, 1941. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
11. Progression of IAAF World Records 2011 Edition, Editor Imre Matrahazi, IAAF Athletics, p 152.
12. "Les Steers". University of Oregon. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.