GENEVA, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell set the world fastest result in men's 100 meters of the year as he won in 9.78 seconds at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne on Thursday.

Powell's sprint was 0.01 of a second faster than Tyson Gay of the United States on June 4 at Clermont, Florida.

Powell, who held the world record for three years between 2005 and 2008, was aided by a following wind of 1.0 meters per second.

"The weather wasn't perfect," he said. "It was a good race, a bit cold."

Asafa Powell from Jamaica celebrates after winning the men's 100 metres during the Lausanne Diamond League (Athletissima) athletics meeting at the Stade de la Pontaise in Lausanne June 30, 2011.

"I managed to push my way through. Anything below 9.8 is really good. And it's only the second race of the season so the future can only get better as the season progresses," he added.

Gay was ruled out through injury while world record-holder Usain Bolt missed the event. Bolt has a season's best of 9.91, set at the Rome Diamond League meet last month when Powell was second.