Two weeks ago, Squalicum senior track and field throwing standout Gina Flint got to take her college of choice out for a test drive, so to speak.

Flint went down to Dempsey Indoor in Seattle for the Jan. 12 University of Washington Indoor Preview to compete alongside the Huskies as an unattached athlete.

"It was a really good experience," Flint said in a phone interview. "It was my first indoor meet, so it was a different experience and a different environment. ... I was really excited to go down there and compete. It was pretty neat to throw against my future teammates."

Flint said she had been leaning toward accepting an offer from UW since September. She took her official visit in November and committed in late December.

She plans to sign her National Letter of Intent on Wednesday, Feb. 6.

Flint said she chose Washington over the University of Oregon, which was missing a coach when she visited over the summer, and Montana State.

"It was closer to home, and I really liked the feeling of the campus more at UW," Flint said. "I'm really excited, because I have family and friends that can come down and watch our home meets, and that was a big part of my decision."

By going to UW, she'll only be a long discus throw away.

Flint also liked the feeling she got from her soon-to-be teammates.

"They have a really young throws team, but they're all really good," Flint said. "They're all compatible with each other, and they relate to each other really well. They were really welcoming on my visit."

There is one difference, though, Flint said.

Most of the UW throwers spin in the shot put, while Flint is more of an glider.

"I talked to my coach about it, and he said it's because people have different body types," Flint said. "Usually, shorter people spin for leverage and momentum. Since I'm taller, gliding works well. I'm likely going to stick with gliding."

There's no reason to mess with what has worked for Flint to this point.

Last spring as a junior, Flint won Class 2A state titles in both the shot put (42 feet, 111/4 inches) and discus (143-9) and placed fourth and third in the events, respectively, at the BorderDuel Track Classic against the top throwers from Washington and Oregon a week later. She had the fourth-longest throw in the state at any level last year in the shot put (45-73/4) and the second-longest discus toss (153-4).

Flint said she plans to continue to throw in both events when she dons the purple and gold to compete in the Pacific-12 Conference next year and may even take a look at the hammer and weight throws.

"I'm thinking about that," Flint said. "I'm most likely going to stick with the shot and the disc. I'm strong in both, but I might try that. I could be terrible in the hammer and the weight. I might try it for a couple weeks and see what it's like at the beginning of the season."

Flint has no plans to get away from her other passion - choir - either. She's been very active in the Squalicum choirs and said she has a voice audition at UW scheduled for late February.

In fact, she's planning to double major in voice and early education, with plans to become a kindergarten teacher when she finishes school.

"I'm so excited to get started," Flint said. "In some ways, I want it to come faster, but at the same time, I'm really looking forward to my senior year of track."

Reach DAVID RASBACH at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2271.