The stakes are higher and the competition is greater, but Luis Vargas has the same mindset entering his final race in an Elon University uniform.

The senior who’s won all six races he’s competed in this year will top off his career on Saturday in Terre Haute, Ind., at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

“Every race I try and take the same mentality,” said Vargas, noting his preparation and practice schedule this week was identical to the rest of the season. “I really don’t have any expectations as to what place I’ll get. Obviously, I don’t think anybody wants to go into a race and race for second place. Just be smart but race hard.”

Vargas is the first Elon runner to qualify for the NCAA Championships, and has a shot to become the first Elon cross country All-American with a top-40 finish in Saturday’s race. While there are nerves, there’s also excitement for Vargas.

“To be able to be the first (Elon) person to go to this national meet and to be around the best runners in the country is a really exciting feeling,” he said. “It’s one of those things where you just go out and have fun, but race pretty hard.”

Vargas, from Angier, has garnered his fair share of accolades during this record-breaking campaign. He was honored as Colonial Athletic Association runner of the week four times while also taking home CAA Most Outstanding Men’s Performer after winning the CAA Championships Nov. 1 in Boston.

Last week, after winning the NCAA Southeast Regional, he was named Southeast Regional Athlete of the Year.

Vargas has also won at the NCAA Pre-Nationals, the Notre Dame Invitational, the Adidas Challenge and the Elon Invitational.

While he had only won once in his past three years at Elon, it’s not like he isn’t accustomed to this success. Vargas said he won frequently in high school, including at the regional level, but he attributed that to being in a conference that wasn’t extremely competitive.

This relates to his situation now, going up against competition he hasn’t seen this year.

“It’s impossible to race everybody that’s going to be at nationals,” Vargas said. “(Head coach Nick Polk) has done a very good job preparing me. All I have to do is trust in him, trust in myself and put it all out on the line.”

The history aspect of his accomplishments is something Vargas doesn’t take lightly. He’s thankful for what Elon and Polk have done to help him reach new levels of success this year.

But Saturday won’t be the final time Vargas ever runs. He’s planning to run track as an independent in the spring and eventually at another school to use up his eligibility, since Elon doesn’t have a men’s track and field team.

Nevertheless, there’s an added element of emotion that it’ll be the last time he runs for Elon and the fact that it’s the biggest stage of his career.

“I feel like I’m doing my part for Elon,” Vargas said. “It’s exciting, but I don’t want to overthink it. I don’t want to let it bother me or mess with my head. I’ll go out and do the best I can, and whatever happens, happens.