Luther cross country and track and field runner named to Academic All-America Second Team

Thomas Altier, a cross country and track and field runner, was named an All-America Athlete for the 2022-23 season.

DECORAH, IOWA—Luther College is proud to announce that cross country and track and field runner Tom Altier was named to the 2022-23 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Second Team, the first Norse athlete to earn this achievement since 2017 and the fifth cross country and track and field runner in the program’s history. Academic All-America, which began in 1952, honors top college athletes for their athletic and academic achievements.

Altier, class of 2023, majored in computer science and mathematics and maintained a grade point average of 3.93 during his time at Luther, graduating with summa cum laude honors. In order to be nominated for the Academic All-America team, student-athletes must maintain a 3.5 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale.

Tom Altier

“He was an incredibly motivated, driven and disciplined athlete,” said Luther Cross Country Coach Steve Pasche, who worked with Altier throughout his Norse athletic career. “He was a cornerstone of the program.”

While maintaining his high GPA, Altier represented Luther College at the 2021 and 2022 NCAA cross country championships. To be nominated to All-America, athletes must also be starters for their sport and compete in 50% of varsity contests during the season. In his final cross country season, he finished 11th at the American Rivers Conference Championship, becoming a three-time all-conference finisher. During the Midwest Regionals, he helped the team to a sixth-place finish. Altier finished 28th individually, earning the title of all-region finisher – runners must place in the top 35 to receive the title. He became the second runner in Luther cross country history to become a four-time all-region finisher.

In addition to his cross country achievements, Altier was a distance runner for the Luther track and field team. He set a Luther record in the 3,200-meter run and is fifth all-time in the 5,000-meter run for the college. He earned two all-conference honors for track, one for indoor in the 3,000-meter run and one for outdoor in the 5,000-meter run.

“His athletic career was cut short since he suffered an ankle injury before his last track season, but continued to support the team while he was out,” Pasche said. “He really showed emotional resiliency and was a joy to work with.”

In addition to his running career, Altier was a saxophone player at Luther College, performing in the Luther College Jazz Orchestra.  

About Luther College 

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.