For what it's worth, the retired Mottram says it's exciting for him to be stacked up against McSweyn, the rising star of Australian distance running.

One thing's for sure, those comparisons will just keep coming in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics and beyond.

In many ways they're inevitable.

Both were coached in their prime by Nic Bideau.

Both stand at 1.88m - which is uncommonly tall for a distance runner.

And both are white and successful in a sporting discipline long dominated by runners of east African lineage.

Mottram - known in his heyday as the Big Mazungo or Big White Man - was a trailblazer in the mid 2000s, regularly taking it up to all-time greats such as Kenenisa Bekele, Bernard Lagat and Eliud Kipchoge.

Career highlights for Mottram included 5000m bronze at the 2005 world championships, 5000m silver at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and a 3000m title at the 2006 World Cup.

"In the past, some people have just looked at these Africans and think they're unbeatable," said McSweyn, the red-hot favourite to win another national title in the 5000m at the Melbourne Track Classic on Thursday night.

"After seeing what he's done it has obviously opened a lot of people's eyes, including my own."

The 24-year-old McSweyn is still in the formative stages of his career but showed his talent and versatility by smashing the national 10,000m record late last year.

The Tasmanian is also qualified for the 1500m and 5000m at Tokyo 2020.

"It's obviously hard to be compared to a guy who was that good; you have to try and do a lot of good things to be even mentioned in that vein," McSweyn said of links to Mottram.

"Maybe in recent times, but he's still done a lot more than I have done in the sport.

"Until you do a bit more you're kind of very careful talking about it.

"I have run some pretty quick times but you look at his major championship record, I have still got a way to go to get near where he was."

Mottram has mostly watched on from afar as McSweyn surged through the ranks in recent years.

"He's probably better than I was over 10K, he's obviously shown that and run faster," said the 39-year-old Victorian.

"He's quicker than I was over 1500 at 3:31.

"Those comparisons are really interesting and he'll certainly run quicker over 3K and 5K over the next 12 or 24 months

"Like everyone else, I'm looking forward to watching him compete and run fast times.

"Hopefully he makes the final in Tokyo and can compete really well in the last (kilometre)."

In other action at the Melbourne Track Classic on Thursday evening, Jessica Hull will be the favourite to win the women's national 5000m crown.

Australian Associated Press