Friday was a bountiful day for Miami-Dade County at the Region 4-3A swim finals. A number of county swimmers won individual titles, including several double-event winners.

Palmetto’s Derek Chait and Daniela Johnson, Reagan’s Isabella Paez and Coral Reef’s Kelly Fertel all won a pair of titles and will advance to the state finals in multiple events.

In what was the closest race of the meet, Johnson and Fertel tied in the 100 breast. Johnson was leading nearly the entire race, but a late burst of speed by Fertel helped the freshman close the gap. With less than 25 yards remaining, Fertel caught Johnson and the pair swam stroke-for-stroke into the wall.

“My coach told me in the finals not to let Daniela get away from me,” Fertel said. “I’m excited. I’m sharing the win, but I think at states I’ll get her.”

For Reagan’s Paez, Friday was a warmup for an inevitable state title shot in the 500 free next week. Paez was in stealer form in the event, besting the competition by nearly six seconds. Paez also had an outstanding showing in the 100 fly. The junior outlasted Hialeah Gardens Maria Lopez to win the race in with a time of :57.04.

“I am right wear I should be right now. The training has helped a lot,” Paez said. “I’m right where I want to be in the 100 fly.

Paez admitted she was a little disappointed with her 5:00.13 in the 500 free, but feels with some extra work she can continue to lower her time.

Coral Gables senior sprinter Anthony Soto nearly won both his events. The senior placed first in the 50 free but finished third in the 100 free. Soto and Krop senior Nicholas Coard battled for control till late in the race.

After the race’s first 50 yards, Soto and Coard were nearly tied, but Coard’s :24.76 over the race’s last 50 yards would prove to be the difference.

A number of county athletes had times that should be fast enough to advance to the state tournament next week. Only the winner of each event automatically qualifies for the state final. After all regional events are done, the top 20 fastest times in each event advance.

In the team competition, Palmetto narrowly lost to St. Thomas for both the boys’ and girls’ titles. Chait was instrumental in the Panthers second-place showing, competing in four events. Chait helped Palmetto place second in the 200-free relay and the 400-free relay.

Chait nearly led Palmetto to a win in the 200-free relay but was out touched at the wall by St. Thomas RJ Moore. Chait, who admitted to being a little tired after his 500-free winning performance, is confident his team can bounce back at the state final.

•  Boys’ top 8 team results: 1. St. Thomas 342.50, 2. Palmetto 327, 3. Nova 222, 4. Columbus 150, 5. Cypress Bay 133, 6. Reagan 117.50, 7. Ferguson 106, 8. Mourning 105. Top 4 individual results: 200 medley relay: 1. Palmetto 1:38.87, 2. St. Thomas 1:39.26, 3. Nova 1:41.01, 4. Reagan 1:41.85. 200 free: 1. Derek Chait, PAL, 1:43.47, 2. Bradley Adan, COL, 3. Francisco Parra, CB, 1:44.16, 4. Juan Olano, SUN, 1:45.15. 200 IM: 1. Samuel Smiddy, PAL, 1:54.27, 2. Brandon Goldman, STA, 1:55.31, 3. Veronica Gruelach, MB, 2:14.49, 4. Skye Downey, SP, 2:16.29. 50 free: 1. Anthony Soto, CG, :21.73, 2. Facundo Betancor, MIA, :22.18, 3. RJ Moore, STA, :22.37, 3. Jose Gonzalez, REA, :22.37. 100 fly: 1. Bradley Adan, COL, :51.78, 2. Samuel Smiddy, PAL, :52.07, 3. Alex Lilley, STA, :52.77, 4. Robert Castano, COL, :52.86. 100 free: 1. Nicholas Coard, KROP, :47.27, 2. Francisco Parra, CB, :47.94, 3. Anthony Soto, CG, :47.96, 4. Alex Behnam, STA, :47.97. 500 free: 1. Derek Chait, PAL, 4:39.85, 2. Blake Manganiello, PAL, 4:42.38, 3. Luis Rivadeneria, FER, 4:44.41, 4. Kyle Desrosiers, STA, 4:47.99. 200 free relay: 1. St. Thomas 1:28.01, 2. Palmetto 1:28.30, 3. Nova 1:31.80, 4. Hialeah Gardens 1:31.91. 100 back: 1. Brandon Goldman, STA, :52.35, 2. Francisco Alvarez, WEST, :54.03, 3. Robert Castro, COL, :54.25, 4. Nicholas Coard, KROP, :54.56. 100 breast: 1. Juan Olano, SUN, :59.88, 2. Joseph Hunt, PAL, 1:00.88, 3. Alexander Reid, MB, 1:01.01, 4. Jose Gonzalez, REA, 1:01.36. 400 free relay: 1. St. Thomas 3:12.61, 2. Palmetto 3:15.13, 3. Nova 3:18.48, 4. Reagan 3:22.11. Girls’ top 8 team results: 1. St. Thomas 291, 2. Palmetto 248.50, 3. Coral Reef 223.50, 4. Cypress Bay 217, 5. Reagan 152, 6. Nova 148, 7. West Broward 143, 8. South Plantation 142. Top 4 individual results: 200 medley relay: 1. Palmetto 1:51.10, 2. Coral Reef 1:51.63, 3. St. Thomas 1:53.30, 4. West Broward 1:53.77. 200 free: 1. Emma Lincoln, CB, 1:51.26, 2. Arianna Noya, REA, 1:52.96, 3. Melissa Marinheiro, WB, 1:54.14, 4. Marcella Marinheiro, WB, 1:54.46. 200 IM: 1. Kelly Fertel, CR, 2:08.83, 2. Philomena Fiorenzi, STA, 2:11.22, 3. Veronica Gruelach, MB, 2:14.49, 4. Skye Downey, SP, 2:16.29. 50 free: 1. Carla Robles, CR, :24.31, 2. Zoie Balthazar, SP, :24.38, 3. Osianna McReed, NEO, :24.65, 4. Khamai Simpson, CR, :24.80. 100 fly: 1. Isabella Paez, REA, :55.11, 2. Maria Lopez, HG, :57.04, 3. Arianna Noya, REA, :57.49, 4. Philomena Fiorenzi, STA, :58.58. 100 free: 1. Daniella Johnson, PAL, :51.58, 2. Emma Lincoln, CB, :52.08, 3. Khamai Simpson, CR, :52.99, 4. Carla Robles, CR, :53.32. 500 free: 1. Isabella Paez, REA, 5:00.13, 2. Melissa Marinheiro, WB, 5:06.82, 3. Kylie Herman, CB, 5:16.81, 4. Haley Wright, CB, 5:17.25. 200 free relay: 1. Palmetto 1:39.54, 2. Coral Reef 1:41.13, 3. Cypress Bay 1:41.38, 4. St. Thomas 1:41.43. 100 back: 1. Marcella Marinheiro, WB, :58.62, 2. Sammy Stinemire, STA, :59.58, 3. Amanda Tipton, Nova, 1:00.34. 4. Meagan Abadm SP, 1:00.41. 100 breast: 1. Kelly Fertel, CR, 1:07.18, 1. Daniela Johnson, PAL, 1:07.18, 3. Fatimah Westbrook, NEO, 1:09.37, 4. Nicole Hunnewell, CR, 1:11.37. 400 free relay: 1. St. Thomas 3:38.17, 2. Cypress Bay 3:40.03, 3. Reagan 3:41.99, 4. Hialeah Gardens 3:42.68.