Local girl takes second in national soapbox race

A 15-year-old Spokane County girl was runner-up in the 69th annual All-American Soap Box Derby Championship held Saturday in Akron, Ohio.

Brittney Katterfeld, who attends Freeman Middle School, raced in the stock division, where she came in second after Michael Neely, 14, of Akron Suburban, Ohio, according to a press release issued by the Derby.

The 2006 finals showcased more than 500 competitors from 40 states, the District of Columbia and five foreign countries, a Derby spokesman said.

Racers competed in three divisions: stock, super stock and masters.

First-place winners received $5,000 college scholarships, while runners-up and third-place finishers received $3,000 and $2,000 respectively.

Katterfeld qualified for the All-American Championship at Derby Downs when she came in first in the Spokane Soap Box Derby in June.

After that victory she said, “I feel the work of five years of racing and working on my car has paid off.”