Former Kansas University cross-country and track star Herb Semper has died. He was 81.

The university said in a statement Tuesday that Semper, a member of the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame, died June 26.

Semper was a member of the Kansas cross-country program under head coach Bill Easton from 1949-52.

Semper became the first Jayhawk to win an NCAA championship, winning in 1950 and 1951. The university said Semper remains the only runner in KU history to win two cross-country individual national championships.