Les Steers
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Lester 'Les' Steers
| image = Les Steers 1940.jpeg
| image_size =
| caption = Steers, circa 1940
| birth_date = {{birth date|1917|06|16}}
| birth_place = Rohnerville, California
| death_date = {{death date and age|2003|01|23|1917|06|16}}
| death_place = Richland, Washington
| resting_place =
| occupation =
| residence =
}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.usatf.org/halloffame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=160|publisher=USA Track and Field |title=Les Steers|accessdate=March 29, 2015}}
Track career
Steers attended Palo Alto High School, winning the CIF California State Meet three years in a row from 1935 to 1937{{cite web | url=http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/stateres.htm | title=California State Meet Results - 1915 to present }} and San Mateo Junior College before attending the University of Oregon in 1941, competing for the 'Ducks' in the year of his greatest triumphs.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19400923&id=LbRWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2911,3780859&hl=en|publisher=Eugene Register-Guard |title=Les Steers, World Champion High-Jumper, to Attend Oregon|date=September 23, 1940|accessdate=April 1, 2015}}
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.{{cite news|url=http://www.oregonstars.com/TypeClientDetail.php?Type=Biography&ObjId=1554|publisher=Oregon Stars|title=Steers, Les|accessdate=March 29, 2015}}
It was, however, as a high-jumper that he achieved his greatest success. He was NCAA (United States collegiate) champion (1941)){{cite web|url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/tfn_pdfs/ncaa_history_pdfs/ncaamhj.pdf|title=All-time NCAA Men's Results|publisher=Track and Field News}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
, 3 times AAU (United States national) champion (1939–41){{cite web|url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/archivemenu/13-lists/979-usa-nationals-history|title=A History Of The Results Of The National Track & Field Championships Of The USA From 1876 Through 2014|publisher=Track and Field News|access-date=2015-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316033746/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/archivemenu/13-lists/979-usa-nationals-history|archive-date=2015-03-16|url-status=dead}}
, and a gold medalist at the World University Games in 1939 (where he also won silver in the javelin and bronze in the pentathlon).
As a jumper, Steers used the 'Belly Roll', a variation of the 'Western Roll'.
Later life
Steers remained in Oregon reportedly working as a salesman.{{cite web|url=http://pac-12.com/article/2003/01/30/former-world-record-high-jumper-les-steers-passes-away|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100608/http://pac-12.com/article/2003/01/30/former-world-record-high-jumper-les-steers-passes-away|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2015|publisher=PAC-12 School Sites|title=Former World Record High Jumper Les Steers Passes Away|date=January 30, 2003|accessdate=March 29, 2015}}
He died in 2003, a resident of Richland Washington.{{cite web|url=http://www.memorialobituaries.com/memorials/memorials.cgi?action=Obit&memid=87786&clientid=einans|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402092457/http://www.memorialobituaries.com/memorials/memorials.cgi?action=Obit&memid=87786&clientid=einans|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2015|publisher=www.memorialobituaries.com|title=Lester Leroy Steers|accessdate=April 1, 2015}}
World records
Steers achieved the following world records during his athletics career:Progression of IAAF World Records 2011 Edition, Editor Imre Matrahazi, IAAF Athletics, p 523.
- {{convert|2.10|m|ftin|frac=4|abbr=on}} in Seattle on 26 April 1941;{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h0wEAAAAMBAJ&q=les+steers&pg=PA44|publisher=Life Magazine|title=Oregon Track Star Sets High-Jump World Record at 6 Ft. 10 25/32 In.|date=May 26, 1941|accessdate=March 31, 2015}}
- {{convert|2.105|m|ftin|frac=8|abbr=on}} in Los Angeles on 24 May 1941;
- {{convert|2.11|m|ftin|abbr=on}} 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.Progression of IAAF World Records 2011 Edition, Editor Imre Matrahazi, IAAF Athletics, p 152. 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.
In 1992, Steers was inducted into the University of Oregon Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=249068|publisher=University of Oregon|title=Les Steers|accessdate=March 31, 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415042008/http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=249068|archivedate=April 15, 2015}}
References
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{{succession box|before={{flagicon|USA}} Mel Walker|title=Men's High Jump World Record Holder|years=1941-06-11 — 1953-06-27|after={{flagicon|USA}} Walt Davis}}
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Category:American male high jumpers
Category:Oregon Ducks men's track and field athletes
Category:Sportspeople from Eureka, California
Category:Track and field athletes from California
Category:World record setters in athletics (track and field)
Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners