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]

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]

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

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

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.

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]