LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Asafa Powell ran the fastest 100 meters in the world this year on Thursday, winning in 9.78 seconds at the Athletissima track meet.

Powell's sprint was 0.01 faster than Tyson Gay of the United States, who turned in his time on June 4 in Florida. Powell's time was aided by a tail wind.

"It was a fantastic race. I was very confident actually that I was going to run good," the 28-year-old Powell said.

World record-holder Usain Bolt had a season best 9.91, set at the Rome Diamond League meet last month where Powell -- the world record-holder from 2005-08 -- was second. Powell's previous best this season was 9.90 at the Jamaica championships last weekend.

The world championships in Daegu, South Korea, are two months away, and Powell hopes to get even better.

He said the race was "not really a message to anybody -- it's just for me," but Powell will be looking to defeat Bolt, who broke Powell's world mark in his breakthrough 2008 season.

Smiling broadly, Powell said he's reaching his best form "slowly but surely."

"It will get better and better as the season goes on," he said. "9.6 is in my range."

Bolt's record is 9.58.

Jamaican teammate Michael Frater was second with a personal best time of 9.88. Christophe Lemaitre of France was third in 9.95.

David Rudisha, the world record-holder in the 800, won the event here in 1 minute, 44.15 seconds, while world champion Blanka Vlasic of Croatia was beaten in the high jump by Anna Chicherova of Ukraine, who cleared 6 feet, 4¾ inches. Vlasic jumped 6-2¾.

Olympic and world champion Andreas Thorkildsen won the javelin in his return from a groin injury. The Norwegian won with an opening throw of 292-7.

Also, American Morgan Uceny won the 1,500 meters in 4:05.52, almost a half-second ahead of Ukrainian Anna Mishchenko. Caster Semenya, the 800 world champion from South Africa, was 13th, more than 10 seconds behind Uceny.

In the 400, Amantle Montsho of Botswana won in 50.23, with world champion Sanya Richards-Ross second in a season-best 50.61. Richards-Ross is working her way back after a 2010 campaign that was sidetracked by a series of injuries.

Two American world champions, Brittney Reese and Christian Cantwell, registered victories.

Reese won the long jump with a leap of 22-5 3/4, Cantwell won the shot put with a heave of 71-7½.

Sally Pearson edged Danielle Carruthers of the United States to take the 100 hurdles in a photo finish. The Australian's winning time of 12.47 time was ruled illegal due to a 3.3-meter following wind. 

Source: Associated Press