Grace Nolan, elite runner and medical student, killed in Michigan car crash

Grace Nolan, a 25-year-old elite runner and second-year medical student at Oakland University’s William Beaumont School of Medicine, died following a motor vehicle accident in Walled Lake, Michigan. The crash occurred on a Friday night, the day before she was scheduled to compete in the elite field of the Detroit Free Press Marathon.

Nolan was a highly accomplished athlete, having been a three-time All-Horizon League First Team cross country runner and a Horizon League 10,000m champion. She was also a nominee for the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year. Her family noted that she had been training with Gazelle Elite and had expressed interest in qualifying for the Olympic Trials.

Nolan’s boyfriend, Matt, was also in the vehicle during the accident. While he sustained significant injuries, he is expected to recover.